Product Details

• Actors: Fran Drescher, Timothy Dalton, Ian McNeice, Patrick Malahide, Lisa Jakub
• Directors: Ken Kwapis
• Writers: Todd Graff
• Producers: Fran Drescher, Hawk Koch, Peter Marc Jacobson, Roger Birnbaum, Todd Graff
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: June 24, 2003
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (79 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000094J62
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,282 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "The Beautician and the Beast" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Beauty-school teacher Fran Drescher, basically reprising her television role in The Nanny, is whisked out of Queens and deposited in Eastern Europe after she is mistaken for a science teacher. Timothy Dalton is the gruff and stilted president for life she tames with mousse and kindness. Drescher, with that inimitable voice and colorful clothing, is very funny. It is not a far stretch to compare her favorably with Lucille Ball. The script, however, matches her bubbly humor with nothing but clunkiness. A mild diversion, this is one of many Hollywood comedies that works just fine on video. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Product Description

Classic Story Retold on VHS

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Plain Feel Good October 21, 2004

By Shirley Priscilla Johnson TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

This is one of those movies that you walk away from feeling just plain good all over. Timothy Dalton plays a magnificient President, widowed father of 3 children, full of pride and just ready to be shown the way by our lovely cosmetology teacher played by Fran Drescher.

In the same flair as the Nanny, which Fran played an outstanding part of a Nanny, this movie takes you into the hearts of the children,Mr. President and Fran herself. Mistaken as a 'regular' teacher she is brought to another country to teach Mr. President's children. What will happen when they find out she is only a beauty teacher, the fun begins.

Lighthearted, yet not totally without some good lessons, this movie will make you laugh out loud, orrt for the good guys and say 'ah' at the end. Want to feel good? See this movie, it is a winner.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Clean Fun November 2, 1999

By Margaret T. Sacco

Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase

Timothy Dalton and Fran Drescher give viewers precious, intimate moments as well as plenty of laughs. They are a great comedy team and belong together on the screen for many more movies. This is one of the best movies that I have seen in years. "Talking to the Hand" is a classic comedy device that will be remembered and imitated for years to come. Dalton continuously proves he is perhaps the best actor today, though greatly underrated. His flair for comedy that was magnificiently demonstrated earlier in HAWKS should not be overlooked by producers, directors, and audiences. I have seen 99% of Dalton's films and his superb, acting skills distinguish all his films. Certain reviewers' nasty remarks about Fran's accent and New York style are indicative of the prejudices of meanspirited turkeys.She remains a gifted actress worthy of challenging parts. Additionally, this is a family film that everyone can enjoy.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fran in top form! May 3, 2001

By Byron Kolln HALL OF FAMETOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:VHS Tape

Riding high on the success of her hit TV show "The Nanny", Fran Dresher conquered the cinema with the 1997 hit THE BEAUTICIAN AND THE BEAST, an update of the classic fairytale with a modern twist.

Joy Miller (Fran Dresher) is a struggling makeup artist from Queens who is mistaken for a highly intelligent teacher and taken to the small European kingdom of Slovetzia to teach the three eldest children of dictator Boris Pochenko (Timothy Dalton).

The children blossom under her unethical guidance while the cold Boris slowly falls in love with the pert and perky Joy.

Featuring Lisa Jakub (MRS DOUBTFIRE), Heather deLoatch (A LITTLE PRINCESS), Phyllis Newman (MANNEQUIN) and Ian McNiece, THE BEAUTICIAN AND THE BEAST is a delightful comedy favorite.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars I Like This Movie (It's Funny!)-- So Sue Me!! March 13, 2005

By Ashley Quinn

Format:DVD

I know that alot people probably have seen this and thought it was ridiculous or have seen it on the movie store shelf and ignored it. This is such a funny movie-- Fran Drescher is the main draw, but Timothy Dalton as the angry, dictator/president father of three is hilarious as well. There's one scene where he tells one of his advisors to "Talk to the hand." It's funny because it's a rigid Timothy Dalton doing this. And also because NO ONE does this anymore.

Drescher stars as Joy Miller, an aspiring beautician. While she's teaching a beauty class, the classroom goes up in flames because a student was smoking and caught the mannequin head on fire. Another student attempts to put the fire out by using a can of hairspray. Oops. Joy saves the animals that are in the classroom and ends up on the front page, and because she's such a dedicated "teacher," is offered a job teaching the children of the Slovetzian president, Pochenko (Dalton). Joy has several meet-cutes with this seemingly cold, brutal president, who acts more like a dictator. We come to find that he's not as rigid as we think.

It's Beauty and the Beast meets The King and I. It's not executed as well as the previously mentioned, this movie stutters through their romance (remind me why she instantly likes him so much??) and there's an unnecessary story about a "rebel" boyfriend of the president's daughter, which turns into a giant rigamaroll. Though all in all, this movie is a good laugh. Recommended!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Devastating Dalton Delights Again December 15, 2003

By L O'connor

Format:DVD

As a lifelong Timothy Dalton fan (since 1968, sad isn't it?), I will watch absolutley anything he is in, though a lot of his stuff is a bit grim for my taste. In this delightfully frviolous romantic comedy he plays a stern Eastern European Dictator whose heart is softened by the feisty New York girl he engages as governess for his children. The plot is extremely silly but who cares, it's funny and romantic, a sort of whimsical updateing of 'The Sound of Music' (thankfully without any singing). The scene at the ball where Dalton suddenly sweeps the girl into his arms provoked an involuntary whimper of excitement and envy from me, causing my oldest son to exclaim "Oh honestly, Mum" in that disgusted tone teenagers are so good at. Even if you are not a Dalton fan you will enjoy this film if you are partial to romantic comedies that aren't too soppy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Diamond in the rough October 17, 2006

By Susan Fong

Format:DVD

"The Beautician and the Beast" is a warm and surprisingly touching romantic comedy/drama. It's a modern day cinderella story as well as a variation on the age-old "Beauty and the Beast" fable.

Fran Drescher as Joy Miller is a delight as the beautician from Queens who is stunning to look at but whose voice is a distinctive blend of nasal/New York. Believing that she is a public school teacher when in fact she is a beauty school teacher, Joy is mistakenly recruited by a representative of the dictator of a small eastern European country as a teacher for his children. The dictator is played by Timothy Dalton who somewhat resembles a youthful and very sexy Laurence Olivier. There is ferociousness tempered by a childlike vulnerability in Dalton's vigorous performance.

Joy may not have a university degree in education, but she has plenty of street smarts. She has a patient and understanding nature yet doesn't hesitate to speak her mind especially when a wrong is committed. Joy makes an enduring impression upon the dictator's children and especially upon the tyrannical father himself.

This movie improves with age because it reminds us that entertainment does not have to be profanity-laced, violent, or sexually explicit to hold your interest. Instead, its depiction of people and relationships is gentle and humane. Additionally, "The Beautician and the Beast" is a visual treat with impressive photography, sets, and costumes. It also has a lush and romantic musical score.

Amongst so many unimaginative, big-budget Hollywood movies and their equally unimaginative, big-budget sequels, "The Beautician and the Beast" shines like a diamond in the rough. It's a film that your whole family can watch and feel good about. What a rarity!