Beastly (2011)

A modern-day take on the "Beauty and the Beast" tale where a New York teen is transformed into a hideous monster in order to find true love.

Director:

Daniel Barnz

Writers:

Daniel Barnz (screenplay), Alex Flinn (novel)

Stars:

Alex Pettyfer, Justin Bradley, Mary-Kate Olsen

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alex Pettyfer	...	Kyle Kingston
Justin Bradley	...	Student
Mary-Kate Olsen	...	Kendra
Dakota Johnson	...	Sloan
Erik Knudsen	...	Trey
Vanessa Hudgens	...	Lindy
Karl Graboshas	...	Male Teacher
Peter Krause	...	Rob
LisaGay Hamilton	...	Zola (as Lisagay Hamilton)
Jonathan Dubsky	...	Student at Green Party
David Francis	...	Dr. Davis
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Will
Rhiannon Moller-Trotter	...	Halloween Partygoer
Steve Godin	...	Junkie
Gio Perez	...	Victor

Storyline

In the Buckeston Academy High School, the wealthy, arrogant, narcissist and bigot Kyle Kingson is a student that does not respect his classmates. When Kyle is elected representative of the students, he plays a prank with the outcast Kendra that has the fame of being a witch. He invites her to a party and humiliates her in front of their classmates. However, Kendra curses him with a spell that makes Kyle as ugly as his soul. Further, she tells that if he does not find anyone who loves him within a year, he will be doomed to that appearance forever. When Kyle's father Rob Kingson sees him, he takes Kyle to specialists but the doctors do not know what to do. So Rob hides Kyle in an apartment with a maid and a blind tutor. When Kyle sees his mate Lindy on the streets, he saves her from a dangerous drug dealer and he brings her to his apartment to protect her. Now his only hope is that Lindy falls in love with him.

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Plot Keywords:

love | student | high school | curse | blind | 

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Taglines:

It's what's underneath

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language including some crude comments, drug references and brief violence

Details

Official Sites:

CBS Films [United States] Official site [Germany]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 March 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beastly - Schau in sein wahres Gesicht

Filming Locations:

Pont Pierre Laporte, Québec, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£553,069 (UK) (22 April 2011)

Gross:

$27,854,896 (USA) (13 May 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Films, Storefront Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Kyle is talking to Will while he is playing darts, the veins/scarring on his back spell out 'ugly'.

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Goofs

When he shows her the roof top greenhouse she stands in front of the open door, then the camera view changes and he door is closed.

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Quotes

Lindy: What happened to romance? Sappy, soppy longhand love letters.

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.8 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"All Day And All Of The Night"
Written by Ray Davies
Performed by Vanessa Hudgens

User Reviews

Big disappointment

I was so looking forward to this movie and was so sad that I was disappointed it wasn't quite up to expectations. I did not read the book but I saw the trailer for this a few months back and Beauty and the Beast had always been my favourite Disney movie. A modern retelling, good-looking leads, gorgeous cinematography and Neil Patrick Harris? Perfect ingredient for a good old romance movie, I'd say.

But I was wrong. The movie even started on the wrong foot, with Alex Pettyfer's dismal acting. Maybe he's been doing so many action movies that putting on the skin of a romantic lead was a little hard. His portrayal of the vain, selfish and mean lead was unconvincing at best. Now, the best part of Beast's transformation was the coming-of-age of the spoiled 'prince' into a rage-filled beast and finally into a selfless man transformed by love. None of that were evident in Kyle Kingson. He was a brat, then a whiny stalker, and finally an emo dude.

Vanessa Hudgens also gave a cringe-worthy performance. She was so flat and void of personality that it was painful to watch. Beside the bad acting, the plot was also a little draggy, lacking in climax and real emotion. You don't feel drawn to the characters, you don't feel convinced by the emotions and you will cringe at the incredibly cheesy lines. In fact, my sister and I kept mumbling 'Don't say it! Don't say it!" throughout the movie because a clichéd one-liner is always around the corner.

The one saving grace was Neil Patrick Harris, but that's only because he brought his 'Barney Stinson' persona into the movie. Though I absolutely adore Barney, it would be nice to see NPH bring something different to the plate.

All in all, I'd say watch this movie if you're looking for style, but don't go looking for substance. There's not much to be had.