A Slightly Askewed Live Action Version

Rating: 7/10 (11 January 2019)

26 March 2017. Adapting the animated classical musical into a live action musical brought forth some memorable emotional moments but at the same time lost the fun exaggerated, lightness captured in the cartoonish display of several of the characters. The most prominent problem with the updated live action movie is the casting of the real human character Gaston whose physical presence just doesn't capture the animated comical snootiness of the anti-hero. The animated version had charm whereas the live action version had to make due with a pseudo-Broadway stage musical production and in some ways didn't capture the dazzling set designs along with the musical renditions found in such productions as Sound of Music or even Mary Poppins or My Fair Lady.
The live action was most wonderful when it came to the humanity of human suffering and pain but as the same time became too edgy in its raw, violent scenes. Oddly enough Kevin Kline while perfectly cast as the father, wasn't Kevin Kline enough to capture the softer and lightly comical animated version. As for the use of song as live actions and the voice over, which is almost second nature in animated movies, since Les Miserable (2012) use of live singing on set, this live action musical seemed less authentic and more acted.