Beastly

Beastly (2011)
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, and Mary-Kate Olsen
Directed and Written by: Daniel Barnes
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Grade: A+

I loved the book this movie was based on, but I had heard that the movie wasn't good at all from several different sources. I kept an open mind throughout the movie and I loved it. This movie is a modern take on Beauty and the Beast. Alex Pettyfer is very endearing as Hunter (not so much as Kyle) and I am convinced he would have made an excellent Peeta in The Hunger Games, Vanessa Hudgens did a respectable job (for the first time ever) as Lindy, and Neil Patrick Harris is amazing, as usual. But, who surprised me more than anything, was Mary-Kate Olsen. She and her sister were my favorite actresses growing up, but I haven't liked any of their recent movies. I thought Mary-Kate was AMAZING as Kendra. Just the subtle hints of evil she shows were really awesome. Kyle Kingsbury (Pettyfer) is a rich snob who thinks everyone who isn't rich and good-looking shouldn't be allowed to be around anyone who is. Lindy (Hudgens) is a poor girl who goes to his rich school on a scholarship. They happen to meet one night, but Kyle dismisses it, not knowing that this night will change his life forever. After trying to humiliate an outcast student named Kendra (Olsen), she reveals that she's actually a witch and places a curse on him. If he doesn't find someone to love, that will love him back, in a year, he will stay ugly forever. For the first half of his year, Kyle mopes around his new house that his father bought for him, to make sure no one saw him, taking his misfortune out on his housekeeper Zola (Lisa Gay Hamilton) and his blind tutor Will (Neil Patrick Harris). After he sees Lindy again, he starts following her and, after saving her life, he arranges for her to stay at his house for protection. Kyle (calling himself Hunter now) finds himself falling for Lindy. But will Lindy ever be able to love a person with a face like Hunter's?