Review - Beastly

Beastly Is Just…Beastly

Beauty and the Beast is a...tale as old as time. Wait…am I singing a Disney song here?

In this journey through the classic tale we are treated to the stuck up Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) regard for who knows his looks are his calling card. His ego rubs many individuals the wrong way, unless of course they are trying to suck up to him. When he crosses the school “witch” Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen) she places a curse on him. His looks are gone and now he must find someone to love him for what’s inside.

Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) has been at the same school with Kyle for years, and yet she remained under the radar. While Kyle was rubbing most of the school the wrong way she remained unnoticed. A chance meeting before the change gave Kyle a chance to see that Lindy was a pretty decent person, and intrigued him.

Now he searches her out as he is in his own prison. Kyle’s news anchor father has put him in his own apartment to live out his time. It’s all about image. For Kyle to get released from this physical prison he must get someone to say they love him. And as he follows Lindy around an opportunity presents itself for him to convince her to love him. But will she?

Being a story that everyone knows, it would be great if the film set itself apart from what we know. In this case; it doesn’t. This film just feels disjointed and never really wraps itself around an identity. Even though it is a retelling for a new generation, the power of the story seemed muted, and Pettyfer’s Kyle felt too over the top. And while Vanessa Hudgens is an absolutely adorable young woman, she didn’t feel as troubled or upset with the scenario as the situation would warrant.

There are those that may disagree, but this was just a beastly film that could find the way to an, I love you, from me.


C-

Beastly
CBS Films

Director: Daniel Barnz
Cast: Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neal Patrick Harris

Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 95 minutes.