Cinema and Caffeine #25: Beastly

There’s one thing I can definitely say for Beastly: it is the first film I have ever liked Vanessa Hudgens in. She’s clearly acquired some form of acting talent since her days in the High School Musical franchise, and thank God, because most of her screen time in that trilogy is painful to behold. The Beauty who falls in love with the Beast is one of the most beloved fairy-tale heroines, especially by young girls, so it would have been a shame to not like her latest incarnation; however, Hudgens succeeds in making Lindy Taylor funny, smart, and likeable. Magical, indeed.

Beastly is based on the young adult novel by Alex Flinn and takes the familiar tale of Beauty and the Beast and relocates it to modern day New York City. Our handsome and selfish prince in this version is named Kyle Kingston, son of a famous and equally handsome (and selfish) news anchor played by Peter Krause. Kyle is played by Alex Pettyfer, the new go-to actor for young adult adaptations (and hopefully soon to be playing Peeta Mellark in The Hunger Games trilogy--perfect casting). It’s easy to see why: Pettyfer is unfathomably gorgeous. Tall, blonde, tan, perfect abs, perfect hair—he is a cartoon Disney prince brought to life—which makes his uglification all the more tragic. His father can’t bear to look at him and so exiles him from upper crust Manhattan to (alas!) Brooklyn, where he hides in a spacious brownstone with a kindly Jamaican housekeeper and a blind tutor, played with typical Barney Stinson-aplomb by Neil Patrick Harris. Harris is the only person onscreen who can spout some of writer-director Daniel Barnz’s stylized-hipster-speak and still sound believable, yet I must say that not for one moment did I buy him as a blind man. However, it didn’t prevent me from enjoying his onscreen presence as I always do.

Credit must also be given to the young cast where it’s due. Pettyfer and Hudgens have great chemistry; I was rooting for their relationship the entire time. They were adorable together even when Pettyfer was sporting his decidedly NOT adorable look. Also great is Mary-Kate Olsen as Kendra, the witch who grows sick of classmate Kyle’s meanness and so curses him with a tattooed and disfigured face and a deadline. I would have liked for her, her sass, and her hilarious wigs to have gotten more screen time. I also would have liked to see Pettyfer made even more “beastly” considering that his buff body and pretty features still somewhat shine through when covered with scars and tattoos. I understand that making him spout hair and fangs while still living in one of the five boroughs unnoticed might be a little far-fetched, but this is New York! Anything goes, and that includes the most monstrous individuals. The fact that Lindy doesn’t recognize him (or his voice) when he reveals himself to her as ugly alter ego “Hunter” was rather bogus to me, yet since this is, after all, a fairy tale, I allowed my disbelief to be a little extra suspended.

Overall, Beastly is an enjoyable update of a classic tale, well acted and with a cool music selection that will please teens used to the stylish picks on the Twilight soundtrack. If you’re a fan of the original story, it’s worth holding off on crying “blasphemy!” and checking it out. I’m glad that it gave me a chance to stop thing Vanessa Hudgens, so that I might now not have to avoid the awesome Zack Snyder’s upcoming Sucker Punch (featuring her). I’m also glad it introduced me to Alex Pettyfer, who is the new object of my cougar affections—no offense, Taylor Lautner. His heartthrob status is inevitably going to explode this winter between the release of this and the upcoming I Am Number Four, and fortunately he has some chops and charisma to pair with the pretty face that will soon be everywhere.

Quelle