Rating of
2/4
Beauty and the Beast...looks great at least?
Indyfreak - wrote on 07/25/17
The biggest blockbuster of the year so far turns out not to be a superhero movie but a live action remake of an animated classic. And as inoffensive as it is, people are better off revisiting the original film.
Beauty and the Beast (2017) certainly isn't a bad film but it is bland and plays it safe when re-imagining one of Disney's most cherished animated films. It plays the same notes as the original story with a few minor changes being made.
The cast is fine for the most part and the visuals are indeed stunning. The sets, the costumes, and the computer effects look impressive. The songs are energetic and the cast is game to recreate some iconic moments. Emma Watson is adequate as Belle but her singing has clearly been modified. Dan Stevens goes for broke as the grouchy hulking beast. His voicework is on target but the CGI is inconsistent for his appearance. It seemed like something that makeup and prosthetics could have easily done. Kevin Kline is surprisingly good while Luke Evans and Josh Gad nearly steal the show as Gaston and LeFou.
But I could not help notice a calculation to the proceedings, a reliance on a proved formula when the story moved from one point to the next.
Its enthusiasm is admirable but it's hard to applaud something that's just mimicking what has already been accomplished. It won't harm anyone to see it and I'm sure kids will like it. It's too bad there wasn't more attention directed to a true re-imagining instead of a literal remake.
