Faithful to Animated Version -- is it too faithful?? (Audio)

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2017)

Our podcast review features a discussion between Hollywood hosts Ann Elder & Les Roberts. Here's a summary of what they said:
This movie should have been an out of park home run. With a director like Bill Condon who executed a brilliant musical in "Dream Girls," an all-star cast, and a first-rate score, this movie had set great expectations. While it wasn't terrible, it should have been exceptional.
Ann says that "the worst thing about this movie is that it's faithful to the animated version; the best thing about this movie is that it's faithful to the animated version." It's nice that this version keeps the old score and adds a few new tracks, but the story didn't seem to develop at all.
The portrayal of Gaston and LeFou as stereotypical jock with an adoring buddy is okay when they're cartoons, but they come across as one cliché after another when they are real people. They seem like caricatures in this version.
One scene Ann & Les both loved, however, was the ballroom dance. They thought it was the director's nod to classic musicals such as "The King & I," when the King of Siam dances with Anna.
All in all they appreciated the efforts of the director and cast, but they had hoped for a little better. It's still a good movie the whole family can enjoy.
Check out Ann & Les' full audio review: https://soundcloud.com/greenlightreviews/beauty-and-the-beast