Onward my journey down the road of nostalgic movie-watching goes. Not sure when this started this past year, but its ongoing, and I cannot say I’m mad about it. One that falls into this line is the 90s film The Beautician and the Beast, a story that takes a famous fairy tale as inspiration.
The Beautician and the Beast (1997) Film Review
Brooklyn is where Joy Miller (Fran Drescher) calls home. She isn’t exactly living her dream nor does she love the ways her busy-body mother tries to set her up, which is why she takes an interest in a mysterious new job offer. When a man from a foreign country arrives and offers her a teaching position for the children of European leader, Joy finds it a bit odd given her education is only in cosmetology, but she accepts. She’s soon whisked off to Slovetzia, where Joy finds herself in over her head.
The country’s leader, Boris Pochenko (Timothy Dalton) is more than a little stern. Since the death of his wife, he has very little to do with his children, but wishing to improve the image their family has in the country, he decides to hire an American tutor. Little does he realize just what he’s getting in Joy Miller.
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This film is without question a silly one, but it’s also way too entertaining not to indulge in a watch. Between the humor that Fran Drescher is known for, and Dalton’s stern dictator, the film strikes the right balance. It’s such a fun little film to see; each time I do, I’m reminded that I don’t re-watch it enough, but then, perhaps this is part of its charm.
he script, directed by Ken Kwapis (Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, He’s Just Not that Into You), takes inspiration from Beauty and the Beast in a cute, but not religious way. This isn’t a direct re-telling, but there’s enough recognizable things that makes the story fun. I always like films that build on some bonds between the characters, and as one would imagine, this one does between Joy and her charges. It’s all cute, not unlike some of the TV films (like The Nanny Express) we’ve seen with similar plots.
One thing I feel a tiny bit cheated out of is a good end. Don’t mistake me, the ending is a happy one, only it feels “sudden,” as if not much thoughts goes into it. Or as if there should be a tiny bit more to the story. That said, it’s next to impossible for me to dislike this film in any way (plus there’s a pretty ball, so…). It’s all about sweetness and fun, and that’s always a win.
You can find The Beautician and the Beast digitally on Amazon Video
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Content: There’s some sexual content, mostly innuendo [a teen boy tries to come on to an older woman]. There’s also some rebellious behavior. The film is PG.
Photos: MGM
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