This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-Day Tale

* WHERE: Area theaters.

* WHEN: Opens today.

* RATING: PG for some mild thematic elements.

* RUNNING TIME: 93 minutes.

* BOTTOM LINE: A Utah-made take on the classic fairy tale, which leans too hard on the religious message.

The Disney version called it "a tale as old as time," and "Beauty and the Beast" certainly is, spawning dozens of film versions (according to the Internet Movie Database), as far back as 1899 and including Jean Cocteau's luminous 1946 version and the strangely popular '80s TV series with Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman.

The story even survives the attempt in "Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-Day Tale," an earnest low-budget production made in Utah, to graft on a vaguely Mormon morality message.

The "Beauty" of the title remains Belle, played here by Summer Naomi Smart as a hard-working MBA student who also works in an orthodonist's office and tends to her widowed father (Dan Larsen) and two siblings. The "Beast" takes human form in perpetually angry businessman Eric Landry (Matthew Reese).

Landry blows up at Belle's father, a repairman who accidentally breaks one of Landry's art objects, and threatens to get him fired. Belle intervenes, offering to replace Landry's recently fired assistant to work off her father's debt. She endures his bullying attitude and fights back when he belittles her faith. Over time, Belle warms to Landry, and with some background from his ever-patient housekeeper Mrs. Haygood (Deborah Ellis) learns the tragic secret of why he became a beast.

Director Brian Brough, who has worked as a production manager or assistant director on numerous LDS-themed films, tries to do a lot with a little - though the movie's bare-bones budget often shows at the seams. The cast, mostly Utah actors, are a charming group and pretty game.

The weakness of "Beauty and the Beast: A Latter-Day Tale" is the religious message of Brittany Wiscombe's script, which is both heavy-handed and watered-down. Belle talks a lot about finding strength in God and her church, but only the most observant moviegoer (or observant Mormon) would be able to tell which church that is. If a film has "Latter-Day" in its title, it shouldn't be so timid about declaring its faith.

---

* SEAN P. MEANS can be reached at movies@sltrib.com or 801-257-8602. Send comments about this review to livingeditor@sltrib.com.