“Beastly,” a modern day interpretation of “Beauty and the Beast,” made its big screen debut March 5.  The movie was adapted from Alex Flinn’s book Beastly.  

The film features a young man who is more in love with himself than with anyone else and who discovers that beauty really is skin deep.

Kyle Kingsbury, played by Alex Pettyfer from “I Am Number Four,” has it all.  He has a successful father, all the money he needs, popularity, and most of all the looks.  But when Kyle takes his narcissism too far, a fellow student Kendra, Mary-Kate Olsen, curses him till he finds love.

Kyle’s life is then transformed as his face becomes disfigured and his father hides him away in house on the edge of the city.  Kyle wastes his time away but gradually becomes more receptive to his blind tutor and his maid.

One night Kyle stumbles upon a girl who he ran against for a position when he was at school.  He becomes obsessed with Lindy Owens, played by Vanessa Hudgens. 

One night when he is watching her, he finds her in trouble as her father is held at gun point in a drug deal.  After Lindy’s father kills the man holding him at gun point, Kyle takes off with Lindy to protect her.

The rest of the movie develops the growing relationship between Lindy and Kyle, as Kyle learns that beauty is found in personality.  The movie shows how love can develop in the abscene of beauty and personal attraction.

Some critics were upset with the movie due to the book background. Certain aspects of the movie did not match the book.  But the point of the book was clearly shown in the movie and was done well.

“Beastly” is a sweet depiction of love that can be found when you ignore appearances and you look inside someone’s heart.