Beastly

Movie review by S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media
Beastly Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Lackluster romance is heavy on lessons about superficiality.

PG-13 2011 95 minutes
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Parents say

age 13+

Based on 15 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 53 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

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.

Community Reviews

wonder dove
wonder dove Adult
March 30, 2013
age 13+

Cute teeny-bopper fantasy flick!

I already knew this was going be a cheesy made-for-TV chick flick by viewing the trailer but I still wanted to see it. It wasn't that bad for a teen fantasy story about love and acceptance, but it still felt corny to watch as a young adult. Yes, I do think most tweens and some teens would like this. Mary-Kate's character was just too laughable. Vanessa Hudgen's character felt weak and Alex Pettyfer's monstrous character was probably the most realistic. I did however, like the messages throughout about what you put out there will come back at you, loving and accepting yourself and those around you. Treating others how you would like to be treated...etc. so I scored it 3 stars! Would I recommend it to teens? Absolutely. Violence includes an off-screen shooting which kills a man. Lots of arguments. Some bullying at a school. Sexual content has a guy seen shirtless a few times, some innocent kissing by couples and flirting. Language consists of some common curse words but I do not recall any "f" words used. A scene at a party with underage drinking (nothing wild). Also a reference to witchcraft used for good/learning purposes. Okay for 13 and up!!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
joshua martinez
joshua martinez Adult
November 21, 2012
age 14+

14 and up.

this science fiction love romance movie stars with Vanessa Hudgens beastly is an average science fiction romance movie that talks about love good for your older teens and parents the only concerns that you need to know is that beastly has some few sexual innuendos there's also some mild language used and some underage drinking used.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 15 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Inspired by the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast and based on the novel by Alex Flinn, BEASTLY takes place in present-day Brooklyn and centers on an arrogant, handsome, popular teenager named Kyle (Alex Pettyfer) who must learn about love and humility the hard way. A classmate known to be a witch (Mary-Kate Olsen) puts a hex on him, transforming him into a disfigured, tattooed, bald creature. His way out? Finding a girl who will love him as he is, and for all the right reasons. And he has to find her within one year -- or else he'll stay the way he is forever. Could Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens) -- a down-to-earth scholarship student -- be the one, or is Kyle bound to be undone by his terrible reputation?

Is It Any Good?

BEASTLY lives up to its name: It's inert, unexciting, and sometimes laughable, and not in an intentional way. When the best part of your movie is a supporting actor who appears to be channeling his most popular character from a sitcom -- in this case, Neil Patrick Harris as Will, who seems like a blind version of How I Met Your Mother's Barney -- you know you're in trouble.

Start with the movie's definition of ugly, for instance. Rather than make pretty boy Pettyfer downright hideous (which is called for in this case), Beastly wimps out and goes for a tattooed, slashed, punk-rock skinhead look, with a dose of allergy-induced-looking inflammation here and there. Then there's the tone, which is ambivalent at best. Is Beastly a supernatural mystery, a high school drama, or a romcom? (Our money is on supernatural mystery, which it abandons fairly quickly.) And what about chemistry? Pettyfer and Hudgens have none. Some storylines, like Kyle's dynamic with his father (Peter Krause), seem promising, and the film's look isn't half-bad (it has a brooding, midnight-in-the-city vibe). And Harris is always a win, whatever role he plays. But honestly, Beastly is pretty blah.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

Movie Details

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