Very nice remake of 1991 animated classic

Rating: 8/10 (17 March 2017)

The biggest impression from seeing this remake was "Wow, it's just like the 1991 animated movie!" The biggest changes are that both Beauty and the Beast are given back stories about their parents, you glean more about the enchantress that cast the spell, and there are a few character changes that are very slight, including a Wardrobe with a more amazing singing voice than Jo Ann Worley who has an unlikely hookup with the Cadenza played by-over-the top Stanley Tucci. Most of the music is the same, with different voices of course. It's all very nice, but leaves you yearning for the original singers nonetheless, especially Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts and Jerry Obach as Lumiere. Emma Thompson makes a fine Mrs Potts, but it is hard to replace Angela Lansbury.
Kevin Kline inevitably made the part of Maurice, Belle's father, more engaging and memorable. Kudos to Luke Evans Gaston and Josh Gad's LeFou. They really let loose to actually become their animated over-the-top counterparts. The twist on LeFou's character at the end made perfect sense!
There are a couple songs I don't remember from the original, perhaps because they are less memorable altogether? At the end is a powerful rendition of "Evermore" where I was thinking that the Beast, played by Dan Stevens, has a much better singing voice than I thought. Then the credits rolled by and I saw that song was by Josh Grogan. Very, very nice!
Go see this movie. Then you will also want to watch the 1991 version again I bet.