Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast arrives with a cast full of familiar names and a score that leans on the original’s songs. Emma Watson plays Belle, Dan Stevens plays the Beast, and Josh Gad voices the villain Gaston. The film adds new songs by Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda alongside the old ones, and it stretches the story to nearly three hours.
Trailer, via Disney UK.
Belle and the Beast
Watson carries the picture as Belle, a young woman who reads books and dreams of adventure beyond her village. Stevens, playing the Beast, gets less room to grow, locked inside a face that barely changes over time. The chemistry between the two leads works in fits and starts, and the film leans on its music to sell the romance.
“Belle” remains the best song here, performed with warmth and honesty.
The supporting cast includes Kevin Kline as Belle’s father Maurice, Audra McDonald as Mrs. Potts, and Ewan McGregor as Lumière. Their scenes land better than some of the new additions, which strain to fit the story without adding much.
New Songs and Old Favorites
Menken and Miranda add three new songs to the mix, but none of them quite match the originals in melody or weight. The new songs are pleasant enough, but they feel like filler rather than essential additions to the story.
| Song | Original Film | Live-Action Remake |
|---|---|---|
| “Belle” | Yes | Yes |
| “Be Our Guest” | Yes | Yes |
| “Something There” | Yes | Yes |
| “Days in the Sun” | No | Yes |
| “Evermore” | No | Yes |
The score, led by Menken, stays faithful to the original while giving the orchestra more room to breathe. The film also keeps the musical numbers staged as full-scale productions, complete with choreography and spectacle.
Gaston and the Villain Problem
Josh Gad voices Gaston as a cartoonish villain, and the film struggles to make him threatening. His scenes lean on broad comedy rather than menace, and the movie never quite decides whether he is meant to be funny or frightening.
The film also cuts some of the darker edges of the original fairy tale, softening the stakes and turning a tragedy into a happy ending. That choice will please audiences who want a simple romance, but it removes some of the weight that made the original story compelling.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The visual effects are solid, and the castle is rendered with care. The costumes are lavish, and the dance numbers are well-choreographed. But the pacing drags in the middle stretch, and some scenes feel padded to justify the runtime.
The film’s biggest success is Watson’s performance. She makes Belle a character with agency and curiosity, and she grounds the story in genuine emotion. Stevens, meanwhile, is mostly a statue with a voice, and the film does not give him enough material to overcome that limitation.
The new songs are pleasant but forgettable. They do not elevate the film the way the originals did, and they sometimes interrupt the flow of the story rather than enhancing it.
A Solid Remake With Flaws
Beauty and the Beast is a polished, competent remake that respects the source material while adding little that feels essential. Watson’s performance is strong, the songs are familiar, and the spectacle is impressive. But the villain is underwritten, the pacing drags, and the film never quite reaches the heights of the original.
It is a safe bet for families looking for a familiar story, but it will not change anyone’s mind about the power of the original.
