Never one to let a successful film stand by itself, in 1997 Disney released a direct-to-video a follow-up to their hugely successful 1991 film, Beauty and the Beast. Entitled Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, save for a frame, the story takes place concurrently to the original film. Think of it, perhaps, as a series of extended deleted scenes which occur after Belle tries to escape the castle but before Gaston attacks it in the original film.
Gaston, however, is not present here. Instead, evil is represented by Forte (voiced by Tim Curry), a pipe organ who would rather be a pipe organ than a conductor. Forte spends his time chained to the wall and trying convince Beast to do away with Belle and the magical rose which controls the Belle's would-be love's destiny.
In a mainly hand-drawn animated feature, Forte is computer generated and the difference is a terribly disconcerting one. Of course, Forte's motivation, while briefly discussed, is not terribly believable either, nor is the fact that Beast actually—even momentarily—listens to Forte. Forte is, in short, a gross miscalculation on the part of the producers of the film. As it stands, the story is paper thin, and it's thin to the point where even younger members of the audience notice.
There is unquestionably a story that could be told about the courtship of Belle by Beast (and vice versa) during Christmas time and it would be a better story for Forte's not being in it. Particularly with this film taking place at the same time as the original, one isn't quite sure why neither Gaston nor Belle's father are not included in the tale either.
One could almost imagine this feature being made without a villain at all. It could simply be a tale of Belle and Beast learning more about each other and Beast's overcoming his dislike of the holiday. There would still be enough of a character arc and storyline there to succeed, and the film is in fact at its best in this moments which dwell on the courtship, not the ones which dwell on the villain. That wasn't done, and it is unfortunate.
Much of the voice cast from the original film reprise their roles here including Paige O'Hara (Belle), Robby Benson (Beast), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere), David Ogden Stiers (Cogsworth), and Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts). Beyond the addition of Tim Curry as Forte, Paul Reubens and Bernadette Peters also voice characters here. It is a great voice cast and each actor gives it their all. It is the plot and animation which don't live up to the voice work.
.jpg?t=20120527181101)
Article comments