Exceptionally Executed Except...

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2017)

Literally every aspect of the original animated version with the exception of one was not only accurately replicated but expounded upon and deepened regarding character backstory and thematics in this version.
I loved almost every single character and every back story provided for each. Several additional songs were included which provided great depth to the whole story. From Belle to the baker and the Beast to the castle crew, everyone was greatly portrayed. Of course the visuals was astounding.
My only problem was LaFou. I was extremely excited to see that Josh Gad got the role because I mean who else could possibly do it better? He looks and sounds exactly like him! So yes we all know he's gay. That really wasn't my problem. What bothered me was the fact that his funny grumpy grunty loud spazzy qualities were cut just to make as many gay jokes as possible. Instead we get a weird, soft, wifey, clingy awkwardly sexual misfit tag along that has no sense of dynamic or timing. Literally the worst part of the movie was when one of the greatest songs, "Gaston" was coming to a close and his character prolongs the last note before the grand ending with senseless babbling about how uneducated he was by not being able to spell Gaston, delaying the music. Not one person in the theater laughed. It was honestly uncomfortable. LaFou is supposed like a snarky animaniac. Not a girly ditz. Horribly written inconsistent character. Should kept the original.
But other than that, SO GOOD!!!