It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Maybe this is worth 5 stars out of 10, but just something about it makes me leave my rating at 4 stars.The main reason to watch this movie is to gaze at the beauty of Vanessa Hudgens. I guess teen girls will enjoy looking at the male star.This isn't really all that bad of a movie - but it's just so simplistic and obvious and it's been done many times before - and better.I really do feel this is geared towards 12 to 15 year old kids - and not particularly smart ones. Not that that's a bad thing.But many of the rest of us will be naggingly unsatisfied by this pablum.

Great acting. Simple plot. This is a small budget film with big actors that is destined for failure but actually shows up, greatly. Ahead of its time. This is a watch about 6 times a year film or anytime you think of love. Give it a chance, with an open mind, and you'll be thankful you did.

Seriously? The beast doesn't look ugly in the movie and he is not even beastly as the movie title would suggest. I'm so confused after watching this movie. How can you have such a great idea for a movie - a modern take on beauty and the beast - an then screw it this much up. I would have loved an uglier lead and a more beastly one, like a bruiting big beast. Alex is too much of a small skinny pretty boy to ever play a beast. Someone like Taylor Lautner could've been better, he is also a little bigger and more beastly (although he also kinda is a pretty boy). I actually would prefer Alex looking like the 'beast' than the 'normal good looking boy' - that must say something about the failed attempt to make him look ugly and scary. For a plot twist could it have been nice that she didn't love him already and that he ran out of time. And then the witch (aka Mary-Kate what are you doing in this movie? and where is your sister? JK great to see you cut the cord.. JK I missed Ashley) - the witch would go to Kyle and tell him that he ran out of time but she liked his development so much that she would reward him anyways and give him the choice to let him have his looks back or give Will his sight and Zola her children - and then he would finally prove how selfless he had become and choose that his friend's lifes got better and that he would stay 'beastly'. And then Lindy would come home from Machu Picchu and her and Kyle would get together and then she would tell him that she loved him - and he wouldn't care that it was too late - and they would live happily ever after 'beast' and girl. That would have been a better ending.What lifted this movie was that the cast was somewhat B- / C-list celebrities and you knew who they were. Not that the acting was moving. But at least you could appreciate seeing some familiar faces, perhaps they should've just chosen some different familiar faces. I also enjoyed Neil Patrick Harris although I didn't really get why he still was in his Barney Stinson character, but then again that might be why I enjoyed him in the movie. Also the reveal of Kyles ugliness to Lindy could have been a great scene filled with excitement and deep emotions - however it was pretty quick and flat.All in all this movie was just not well done.. I could have lived without seeing it. I give it 4 stars only because I know there are worse movies out there and because I love beauty and the beast even in a massacred version.. apparently.

Beastly (2011): Dir: Daniel Barnz / Cast: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, Mary-Kate Olsen, Neil Patrick Harris, Lisa Gay Hamilton: Visually well made modern version of Beauty and the Beast that regards attitude and oversight. It stars Alex Pettyfer as a handsome popular student running for student President but his campaign is all about praise towards outward beauty while trash talking those whom he sees as ugly. A witch for whom he mocked repeatedly puts a curse on him and he is transformed into a hideous being. He is informed that he has one year to find true love or he will remain this way. Director Daniel Barnz is backed by fine locations, sets and makeup on the hero. Unfortunately the screenplay is too corny and leaves one to desire the effective Disney animation. Of the cast only Pettyfer seems to excel. His vanity and popularity is well established and his stress in his attempts at love are obvious but we all know the outcome and Vanessa Hudgens doesn't help matters. She plays this free spirited student who is sheltered away in the mansion when she and her father are mugged. She is never believable even when she truly loves him. Mary-Kate Olsen steps out of her Full House image to play the witch but the role is a joke. Finally there is Neil Patrick Harris as a blind teacher hired by Pettyfer's father but this role is standard and somewhat dull. Lisa Gay Hamilton has the cardboard role of the maid. Perhaps she should get started and dust off her resume. The idea of creating a modern day version of Beauty and the Beast is fine. The idea of releasing it as a bad circus act is not fine. Score: 4 ½ / 10