A shadow of the original in a dingy mirror

Rating: 5/10 (5 July 2020)

I have never understood why movie studios hire actors that can't properly sing when the movie is a MUSICAL. And then make wholly unwarranted changes that diminish the movie.
Don't get me wrong. The Paris scene was fantastic and the second half saved the film. The entire castle ending was great, as were all of the animated castle denizens. And Josh Gad was good as well.
It didn't help that Beauty and the Beast is perhaps Disney's best animated musical so making changes was risky to begin with.
But casting actors that are marginal singers is never warranted. Imagine if they had cast Phillipa Soo as Belle instead (Hamilton's wife in the Hamilton movie). She has a gorgeous voice and the perfect look for Belle. SMH.