a joy from start to finish

Rating: Null/10 (9 December 2019)

Irresistible animated feature which sets a gold standard for the genre. In a colloquial little village, modest, dedicated bibliophile Belle cares for her father (an eccentric inventor) but yearns for adventure and someone to talk to, all the while ignoring the advances of pompous village alpha male Gaston. When circumstances lead Belle outside the boundaries of the village, she finds herself imprisoned in a castle that's mastered by the monstrous, irascible Beast, an embittered soul cursed for his arrogance and selfishness. With stellar animation, wonderful songs, fantastic characters and vocal work (Orbach's Lumière being a true standout) and an array of genuine emotions, this charming, well-crafted little feature is a real treat that can entertain just about any fan demographic. While the final resolution may not come as a surprise, the journey there is one you can easily enjoy again and again. ***½