GLAMOUR REVIEWS: Beauty and the Beast
There are two burning questions about the remake of Beauty and the Beast: can Emma Watson sing, and can Dan Stevens ever look beastly? On the first it's a resounding YES. Watson has a divine, sweetly-tuned singing voice. On the second, it's a kind of. It’s hard to make Stevens out under all the layers of CGI fur and his voice, digitally altered to sound more booming and beastly, is barely recognisable too. But the pair turns out to be a piece of fairytale casting. Between them, they combine earthy attraction and zesty feminism and make the movie a modern, swoony crowdpleaser.
Watson is as bright and beautiful as the title demands, as well as studious, and brings some lovely Hermione bookishness to the role. We first meet her in her small village, which is obsessed with selling strong cheese and scallops, and very much against reading. Belle's tuition of a young girl is interrupted by an indignant local: “Teaching a girl to read? Isn't one is enough!”
Belle is hardly swept away when vain officer Gaston (Luke Evans) rides into town to claim her as his wife. “She's the most beautiful... so she's the best!" he declares, playing the character as more macho, less intelligent and frankly, better than ever before. But Belle has another destiny. In a far away castle a beast hides from the world. A nobleman cursed by a sorceress, he's doomed to stay that way unless true love's kiss frees him.
The rest of the story furniture is all in place. And singing and dancing too. The gold candelabra Lumiere (Ewan McGregor) is an outrageous French fop. There's some comedy gold from Ian McKellen as the clock, Cogsworth, while Emma Thompson is lovely as Mrs. Potts the motherly teapot who spends most of her time scolding her teacup son Chip. A quick mention of the supposed ‘gay controversy’ around the film - that Gaston's assistant LeFou (Josh Gad) has a crush on him. Yes, he does. And? Perhaps the cinemas in Alabama who are banning the movie on this basis, should consider banning the customers who have a problem with it.
The big duets and rousing ballads are all there - bolstered by three new songs – and the look, a lavish production and costume design with a whiff of panto, is the same. The iconic yellow dress is there and it fits Watson perfectly. To steal a line from another musical - who could ask for anything more?
Watch our interviews with the Beauty and the Beast cast below
Now see who is playing who in the movie
Getty ImagesEmma Watson as...
Belle
Emma Watson will lead the Beauty and The Beast cast playing the lovable, and headstrong Belle. Smart, bookish, and sassy - Emma will play the feminist Disney character to perfection. Watson told Entertainment Weekly that she refused to wear a corset under her character's iconic yellow dress because she wanted to play an "active" princess, and that a corset would restrict her movement.
Revealing the news of her casting, she said: "It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I'll get to dance to 'Be Our Guest' and sing 'Something There'. My six year old self is on the ceiling - heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can't wait for you to see it. Emma xx"
Getty ImagesDan Stevens as...
The Beast
Dan Stevens will be starring as the Beast. And since his character is animated, for most part of the film Dan had to perform wearing a motion-capture suit. At least his head was not covered (can you imagine staying serious talking to a masked man)
The Prince
Dan Stevens will be also playing the Prince, after the Beast transforms. Thankfully Disney will not withhold Dan's gorgeous-ness for the entire movie. Dan Stevens is a British actor, most famous for his role as Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey. However, before landing the role of heir apparent Crawley in Downton, Stevens appeared in a string of theatre productions - largely directed by Peter Hall - and period TV dramas.
Getty ImagesLuke Evans as...
Gaston
Luke Evans will bring Gaston to life, the arrogant most eligible bachelor of the village, who has an eye on Belle. Luke mentioned on the BAFTAs red carpet that he loved playing the handsome villain and he has seen the "finished product". Luke Evans is a Welsh actor who grew up in Pontypool, Wales, but is now a Hollywood heartthrob after his roles in Fast & The Furious andThe Girl On The Train.
Getty ImagesJosh Gad as...
Le Fou
We know Josh Gad will do justice to Le Fou - Gaston's hilarious side-kick. And we can confirm: he has excellent off-screen chemistry with Luke Evans. Josh is best known for his work in Frozen, playing Olaf.
Getty ImagesKevin Kline as...
Maurice
Playing Belle's father is Kevin Kline. Kevin will be performing the story of eccentric inventor Maurice, who is held against his will at the Beast's castle.
Getty ImagesEmma Thompson as...
Mrs. Potts
After a sorceress puts a spell on the Prince and his servants, Mrs. Potts was turned into a teapot. The role will be performed by Emma Thompson, and we can't wait for her to sing As Old As Time.
Getty ImagesEwan McGregor as...
Lumiere
Ewan McGreggor will be voicing and bringing to life the castle's gentleman, Lumiere the candlestick, who used to be the Prince's Chef. It's not the first time the Scottish actor has sung for his supper - remember Moulin Rouge?
Getty ImagesGugu Mbatha-Raw as...
Plumette
Plumette, the featherduster, will be played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The British actress, who is known for roles in Black Mirror, Doctor Who, Beyond The Lights and Belle. In recognition of her body of work, she was nominated in 2015 for a BAFTA Rising Star Award.
Getty ImagesIan McKellen as...
Cogsworth
Obsessed with time, this clock used to be the Prince's butler. Starring as Cogsworth is Ian McKellen. The Hollywood heavyweight needs no introduction, but he recently reprised his role of Gandalf in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and can be seen next in Bill Condon’s Mr. Holmes.
Getty ImagesAudra McDonald as...
Garderobe
Audra McDonald will be playing Garderobe, the wardrobe in Belle's room. She too used to be one of the Prince's servants. Audra will surely have some singing parts because IRL she has six Tony Awards and has recorded five solo albums.
Getty ImagesStanley Tucci as...
Cadenza
Candenza was the Prince's Court Composer who was turned into a pipe organ after the castle was put under the enchanted spell. Voicing and starring as Candenza will be Stanley Tucci (take a moment to acknowledge this awesome transformation). Stanley is a favourite of ours, especially after playing Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada.
Getty ImagesHattie Morahan as... Agathe
Hattie Morahan will be playing Agathe, the enchantress that casted the spell on the Prince and his castle. And this is not Hattie's first Disney film, she also played Queen Elsemere, in Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Getty ImagesAdrian Schiller as... Monsieur D'Arque
Monsieur D'Arque runs the local madhouse, "Les Maison des Lunes". Along with Gaston and Le Fou he's one of the baddies in the movie. Playing Monsieur D'Arque will be Adrian Schiller, who's been in award winner Danish Girl and in the hit TV series Victoria.
Getty ImagesHenry Garrett as... The King
What a handsome King! Henry Garett will the playing the village's King, and the Beast's father. Henry is and upcoming actor who stars in the American TV show The Son.
Getty ImagesZoe Rainey as... Belle's Mother
Zoe Rainey who will play the late mother of Belle, stepped down from the West End stage for the role.
