What happens when a fairy tale gets a $160 million glow-up? Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (2017) dares to reimagine a beloved classic, and it’s a visual feast that both dazzles and stumbles. Directed by Bill Condon, this live-action retelling leans hard into nostalgia while trying to carve its own path, and the result is a curious beast lavish, heartfelt, but not quite transformative.

Let’s start with the visuals. Luke Evans’ Gaston struts through a village so lushly realized it feels like a Renaissance painting come to life, with golden-hour hues and intricate sets that scream big-budget magic. Dan Stevens’ Beast, cloaked in CGI fur, is a triumph of motion-capture nuance his eyes alone carry the weight of a cursed soul. Emma Watson’s Belle, though, is where things wobble. She’s earnest and radiant, but her singing voice lacks the Broadway belt the role demands, leaving iconic songs like “Belle” feeling flat. The enchanted objects Lumière, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts steal scenes with their cheeky charm, thanks to Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, and Emma Thompson, who infuse every candlestick flicker and teapot spout with personality.

Condon’s direction is another mixed bag. He nails the sweeping romance, particularly in the ballroom scene, where that iconic yellow dress twirls under a chandelier-lit glow, backed by Alan Menken’s timeless score. Yet, the pacing drags with added subplots like Belle’s mother’s backstory that feel like studio-mandated padding. The film’s attempt to modernize Belle as a feminist inventor sometimes feels forced, as if checking boxes rather than trusting the original’s subtle strength. Still, the diversity in the cast and a nod to LeFou’s queerness reflect a cautious step toward inclusivity, resonating with today’s audiences who crave representation without preaching.

Why does this film matter in 2025? It’s a mirror to our era’s tug-of-war between nostalgia and reinvention. Streaming fatigue has us craving comfort, yet we demand stories that evolve. Beauty and the Beast tries to balance both, succeeding more as a visual spectacle than a bold reimagining. It’s a reminder that even imperfect fairy tales can enchant when they lean into heart and spectacle. Watch it for the lush visuals and that dance, but don’t expect a revolution just a really pretty spell.

This is a tale as old as time, but it’s still worth a twirl.