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Beastly Review

Release Date: Mar 04, 2011
Rated: Language including crude comments, brief violence and some thematic material
Runtime: 1 hr. 35 min.
Genres: Comedy
Director:Daniel Barnz
Cast:Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, Erik Knudsen. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

0.5

Dave White Profile <h3>Dave White</h3> <p><strong>Your Movies.com Man at the Multiplex</strong></p> <br /> <p>Dave White's first movie review was of the animated feature Snoopy Come Home. He was seven years old...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/dave-white">Read full profile</a></p>

Ghastly Read full review

1.0

Grae Drake Profile <h3>Grae Drake</h3> <p><strong>Movie maven about town</strong></p> <br /> <p>Grae Drake began her love affair with cinema as a wee bairn, as she spent every weekend corralling her friends over to the local...<a href="http://www.movies.com/movie-reviews/grae-drake">Read full profile</a></p>

Beauty and the Blech Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

40

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
16

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly Adam Markovitz
Spectacularly poor judgment in everything from acting to costuming (Olsen's Harajuku-troll get-up is scarier than her curse) puts Beastly right on the cusp of the so-bad-it's-good Hall of Shame.

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30

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt
Rarely do films from Hollywood emerge in such an inane manner. Its rote characters are inevitably in predictable situations with no subtext or subtlety to any of their predicaments.

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38

out of 100

USA Today Claudia Puig
It's dogged by awkward dialogue, a ridiculous plot and lackluster performances, especially by the leads.

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See all Beastly reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 14+

Lackluster romance is heavy on lessons about superficiality.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this take on the classic Beauty and the Beast story (which is based on the novel by Alex Flinn) is aimed squarely at teens who love all things Twilight. But those drawn to the movie by its stars (High School Musical's Vanessa Hudgens and "it" boy Alex Pettyfer) and basic romantic supernatural storyline might be disappointed by what ends up feeling more like a toothless high school popularity contest movie. Plus, unlike Twilight, this film has some strong language (including "s--t") and underage drinking, as well as kissing, sexual innuendo, and plenty of label-dropping. Witchcraft plays a role in the plot.

Families can talk about why the witch puts a curse on Kyle when other people at school are superficial and mean, too. How can behavior like that be addressed in real life?
How does the behavior of the teens in this movie compare to how kids treat each other in reality? Does the fantasy element make it seem less hurtful?
What would you say the movie's message is?

The good stuff

Messages: The movie is ultimately saying that beauty isn’t skin deep, and valuing the outside above all else can make your insides ugly.
Role models: Lindy is earnest and caring, but she seems to be the only character who's genuinely kind and gentle -- though Kyle does undergo an emotional and physical transformation that teaches him about what’s most important.

What to watch for

Violence: A man shoots another man off screen and kills him; the body is later seen. Another man threatens another’s child. A high school boy ridicules a classmate repeatedly.
Sex: Tender kisses between the movie's stars; a couple paws each other at a party. Several close-up shots of the main male character shirtless. A few sexual innuendoes.
Language: Words include "s--t," "ass," "crap," "slut," "skank," "bulls--t," "WTF," and "bitch."
Consumerism: Some label-flashing and name-dropping, including Ducati, Forbes, D’Agostino, Duane Reade, Coke, Footlocker, Jujyfruit, and Bulgari.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some underage drinking at a party; drug references.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.854

Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango

Surprise! by Denny666
You really wouldn't know what to expect til the end. I wouldn't turn away til it's over because you will never understand the meaning of the movie. Redemption is never easy.

by QBad3

by kaileyd33

Read all Beastly reviews at Fandango