We already know the story. We’ve memorized every single song by heart. It really is “a tale as old as time”. So, the big question here is, Was this live-action adaptation really necessary? I feel that these remakes of the cartoon classics are simply cash-grabs, and you probably agree with me. In this case, though, this updated version is worth seeing…and it’s not very hard to see why:
Even though the classic story has been recycled almost beat-for-beat here, it still works because the beloved tale was so tremendous in the first place. Some new elements and scenes have been added, because if you’re going to do a high-budget remake of a classic, it’s nice to give the audience some surprises. Some of these new scenes worked better than others for me, but fortunately did not change the overall story. An example is a backstory about Belle’s mother that director Bill Condon worked in; it was a nice improvement.
The characters themselves are, overall, quite wonderful. Emma Watson as Belle is sweet and charming, even if her performance is not great. Dan Stevens is wonderful as the snarling-but-sympathetic Beast who is kept company by Cogsworth the clock (Ian McKellen), Lumiere the candelabra (Ewan McGregor), and Mrs. Potts the teapot (Emma Thompson). Luke Evans does not disappoint as the villain Gaston, and he comes across as equal parts hilarious and horrible in various scenes. Kevin Kline is a surprising improvement over the original as Belle’s loving father Maurice, who is here less eccentric and given more emotional depth.
The special effects, costume design, and set pieces will most likely make anybody—young or old—feel nostalgic again. Still, there’s nothing quite like the original cartoon (and that is by no means a slam against this film). You will know what I mean when the “Gaston” song doesn’t quite leave you feeling the same as you did when you saw his animated biceps bulge. But Josh Gad (who voiced Olaf the Snowman in Frozen) here provides plenty of amusement as Gaston’s henchman LeFou. Likewise, the back-and-forth between the cursed castle furnishings is hilarious.
So, would I say this film is better than the original? No. Some of the CGI, especially the Beast’s animation, is not great, and some chemistry between the pair is lacking. Still, Disney will absolutely continue pumping out these live-action remakes until they die. Some of them will be great, while others will be less desirable. While I obviously prefer the classic, this one is certainly not a Beast.
★★1/2 out of four
Rated PG; 129 minutes.
THE REEL REVIEWER WITH JOSHUA KROEGER 