Movie Info
Movie Name: Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
Studio: Disney Interactive Studios/Disney Interactive/Disney Television Animation
Genre(s): Animated/Musical/Seasonal
Release Date(s): November 11, 1997
MPAA Rating: G
Belle, you’re my angel… (sappy Beast pick-up lines)
The spell has been lifted from the Beast, and the castle is once again celebrating. As Christmas approaches, the servants recall the events of Belle’s first Christmas in the castle and remember how Belle and Beast first learned to love each other despite the interference of , a vengeful organ who no longer wanted to be human.
Directed by Andy Knight, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is a straight to video spin off of the wildly popular and Academy Award nominated Beauty and the Beast (1991). Originally entitled Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Belle, the movie takes place both after Beauty and the Beast and during Beauty and the Beast.
Go-go Flower-Power Child!!!
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas is a rather weak add-on to a very good film. If Beauty and the Beast had been an average animated film, this movie wouldn’t feel as much of a money-maker type film. With an original film with a great soundtrack, the music in this film also feels mostly forgettable.
Fortunately the major voice actors return for this film, so it really does feel like an addition to the original film. With the multitude of Disney film “sequels” that exist now, this is a better one since the original film didn’t have huge big named stars like later Disney films…it was easier to get the actors back for this spin-off film.
You two are just bitter that you weren’t in the original
Story-wise, this film is ok. It fortunately didn’t go for an entirely repeat of the original movie (originally it was conceived as a sequel with Gaston’s brother). Forte (voiced by Tim Curry) thinks it is better being an immobile pipe organ than a human…somehow I doubt this, but there is also an interesting scene in which it is revealed how the Beast was actually cursed (on Christmas). The action scene on the ice is good, but the final showdown with is weak since once again, he’s an organ.
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas will be liked by younger kids and fans of the original. It feels a bit cheap, but it is a complete story that does work well with the original. If Disney had just put a bit more money into the film, it would have been better.
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