Beauty and the Beast is an animated family film directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. The plot sees social outcast Belle (Paige O’ Hara), becomes the prisoner of a Prince (Robby Benson) who was turned into a beast after insulting a witch. As things appear sinister Belle realises that The Beast is not as monstrous as he first appeared, and they end up falling in love; it is a tale as old as time.
So before I get into it, I want to say yes I know the premise is troublesome, it is a textbook case of Stockholm Syndrome and the message of the film sucks hard, but hey it is a Disney animated film so what else is new.
This was not one of the Disney animated films I grew up on, I think I might have seen it once before, so when I watched it the other night it was almost like the first time and I have to say message aside it is a fairly okay family film. This is not in top tier Disney animated films at least not to me.
I thought the songs where okay, some better than other admittedly. They were catchy enough and they got in my head, but I didn’t remember them much once the film ended. I liked Belle and thought she was an interesting character it is just a shame that she is side lined once the Beast is introduced to the narrative. Her and the Beast have a form of chemistry on screen that is believable, thought I wouldn’t call it romantic.
Overall, one of the meh tier Disney animated films, maybe if I had grown up on it I would have felt differently, but as it stands it just seems quite bland with a seedy undertone the more I think about it.
Pros.
The animation is beautiful
Some of the songs are good
Cons.
Some of the songs are bad
The message and the premise are troublesome
Belle is a good character but doesn’t get to shine
2.5/5
Reviewed by Luke
Another Millennial Reviewer 