CBS Films, Storefront Films
Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Neil Patrick Harris, Dakota Johnson, Erik Knudsen, Mary-Kate Olsen, Peter Krause, Lisa Gay Hamilton, David Francis
Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) is a pompous ass. His Dad is a TV anchor and Kyle is beautiful. He knows it and is very conceited and a real jerk, judging people only by their looks and power. Running for president of the school Green project, Kyle readily admits that he is not the least interested in the cause, and should only be elected because he’s very rich, and handsome and it would look good on his college applications. He steps on and humiliates the school goth chick Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen) who puts a curse on him. She turns him hideously ugly and he has but one year to find someone who will love him for what he is on the inside despite the outside and who will pledge their love to him, the ugly guy. His Dad moves him out of the house and sets him up with a tutor and an apartment of his own so he will not disgrace the family and he’s on his own to find a person who can love him for the changed person he has come to know after he learns his lesson. Up steps Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) who has always had a soft spot for the handsome Kyle, but who never had a chance with him as he was far too popular. This modern day telling of Beauty and Beast is a fairy tale brought into today.
Not a blockbuster film by any means, but nicely done and well performed by the young actors and actresses who played the parts. It feels a lot contrived, but when you’re retelling a fairy tale, it’s bound to come off that way. Still it’s a cute little story, and a nice change of pace. I would certainly give the edge to the Disney version 100%. Vanessa Hudgens is no Belle by any means, but she gave it a good try. Unless you’re a fan of sappy love stories, you’ll probably do good by giving this one a pass, but if you are in the mood for a campy new twist on an old tale, here it is. Beauty and the Beast(ly) is worth 3 1/2 stars.
EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog
