Starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad and Kevin Kiline

Directed by Bill Condon

Disney, out now

Disney’s ongoing campaign to remake its animation back-catalogue as live-action features scores another hit with Bill Condon’s Beauty and the Beast, a sumptuous, joyful and respectful musical treat.

You have to hand it to Disney – they make their movies with precision engineering. They have a captive audience (much like this movie’s heroine) and having learned from their live-action Cinderella and The Jungle Book they know just how much to change from the animated originals. In both of those cases they hired big-name directors (Kenneth Branagh and Jon Favreau) and this time round it’s Oscar-winner Bill Condon behind the camera. Yes, it’s a tale as old as time, but wisely there’s no attempt to post-modernise or freshen things up for a modern audience. The only real concession to modern sensibilities is the welcome inclusion of an ethnically diverse cast, and even Josh Gad’s much talked-about gay character is not treated as a big deal.

Emma Watson is stunning as Belle, who sacrifices herself to a life as the beast’s captive, but she manages to give her enough determination and drive to prevent her from being a victim. True, she is the Patty Hearst of Disney princesses, and before you can shout ‘Stockholm syndrome!’ she’s taken to her beastly captor, but this is a fairy tale after all, and it is written in broad strokes.

Luke Evans as the arrogant and abominable Gaston is the highlight of the movie, a knowing comic turn aided by Josh Gad’s LeFeu, a simpering weasel who’s quite clearly in love with his master. It’s also good to see Kevin Kline back on the big screen again, this time as Belle’s inventor father Maurice.

Dan Stevens does suffer by having his face digitally replaced by the CGI Beast head and having his voice lowered, but there’s still some of his charm on display when he drops his façade and becomes the person that Belle falls in love with (that’s not actually a spoiler is it?). The supporting cast are top-notch, with Ian McKellen, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci and Emma Thompson all having a fine-tine as animated instruments, clocks, candelabra and more.

Alan Menken’s score is (as always) sumptuous and full-blooded, supported by the late Howard Ashman’s witty lyrics. Tim Rice is also on hand to write the lyrics for the new songs, which slip seamlessly into the soundtrack.

Verdict: The rows of silent little girls at the cinema dressed in gold ballgowns is testament to the success of this movie – they sat there spellbound. The occasional middle-aged fathers might also have shed a tear or two as the last rose petal fell – don’t judge me! Certain as the sun, rising in the East, this is going to be a huge juggernaut of hit for Disney. 9/10

Nick Joy