Classic fairy tale an overdone mess
This bloated, convoluted production of “Beauty and the Beast” could prove the death knell for further bigscreen versions of the fairy tale — that is, if Disney’s liveaction remake of its 1991 musical animated hit wasn’t due in theaters next year.
This adaptation, directed by Christophe Gans (“Silent Hill”), proves a tedious mishmash of styles, tones and time periods as it recounts the story of forbidden romance between the lovely Belle (Léa Seydoux) and the beastly being (Vincent Cassel) holding her captive in his cursed castle.
It’s most acceptable when it sticks to its beauty-and-beast dynamic. Even then, it’s too dizzying and grandiose, and the chemistry between the lead characters is pretty much nil.
But the script by Gans and Sandra Vo-Anh spends too much time off the castle grounds with bits involving Belle’s family — ruined merchant father (André Dussollier), nitwit sisters (Audrey Lamy, Sara Giraudeau) and dubious brothers — as well as a prince (also Cassel), a princess (Yvonne Catterfeld) and other heroes, villains and creatures that appear in dreams, fantasies, flashbacks and the present.
There’s fine camerawork, costuming and production design. But the CG and green-screen effects are a mixed bag, and the actors often seem too beset by the overblown story and settings to find their centers. “Beauty and the Beast.” In French with English subtitles. MPAA rating: PG-13, for some fantasy violence, sensuality and partial nudity. Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes. Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Edwards Westpark 8 Irvine.