When you are beautiful on the outside, it doesn’t matter what you’re like on the inside, right?? Wrong!! In “Beastly”, Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) is a handsome and popular student at his private school in New York City. He cares only about himself. We later find out that he learned just how much looks matter from his father, whom he barely sees. When he treats the school’s resident Goth chick Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen) badly one too many times, she casts a spell on him (yes, she is a witch) that makes him look as ugly on the outside as he is on the inside (this includes odd facial piercings, tattoos, and assorted scars). He has one year to find true love or else he will stay that way forever.
Poor disfigured Kyle is sent to live just outside the city in a townhouse. His father promises to visit often, but he keeps cancelling on his son (he’s not a very nice dad). Instead, he sends Will (Neil Patrick Harris), a blind tutor to keep Kyle current with his studies. So with only Will and his housekeeper Zola (Lisa Gay Hamilton) for company, Kyle takes to skulking around the city, spying on Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), a student at his former school whom he had several interactions with prior to his curse. When Lindy’s father inadvertently puts her life in danger, Kyle makes a deal with her dad to keep her safe. So she is brought to Kyle’s townhouse to live. At first, Lindy is angry because she had to leave her friends, her school, and her dream of visiting Machu Picchu (on a school field trip) behind. Kyle realizes that this is his chance to find the one to declare her love for him, so he sets out to win her affections. Unfortunately, he didn’t take the time to get to know Lindy, so his expensive presents get him nowhere. It’s not until he brings her a case of her favorite candy that is he able to break the ice.
I don’t want to reveal any more, but if you’ve seen any other version of “Beauty and the Beast” you can probably guess what happens after.
The acting in this movie was good. There was a fair amount of chemistry between the lead characters. I especially liked Neil Patrick Harris and Mary-Kate Olsen’s performances. Michelle Tanner she is no more!! I thought the makeup people did a good job uglying up Kyle. At first it was kind of hard to look at him but after a while you get used to it. I feel this was a good, modern take on the “Beauty and the Beast” tale. If you believe in magic and the power of love you will enjoy this movie.
