david-sarkies Now what to make of this movie. I have only watched five minutes of the pilot episode of the nanny, as well as the closing minutes of a number of episodes and have decided that I don't particularly like it. The Beautician and the Beast is basically the Nanny made into a movie, with a few things altered. She isn't sacked from a beauty parlour, but is brought into the home of a really rich man (actually an Eastern European dictator) as a nanny. The movie is quite funny in parts but a really do not think much of Fran Dresure (sp?), especially how I heard the comment that her character in this movie is exactly the same as her character in the nanny.This movie makes numerous assumptions about 'decadent American society' in which it destroys. Rather it attacks the eastern European dictatorship and makes America look like a wonderful place. The promiscuous American is destroyed with Fran's character: she is not interested in guys until the right one comes along, and it is obvious that it was going to be Pochenko (Timothy Dalton), and as the movie draws to the close the idealistic Hollywood ideal of love is emphasised in the most sickening way.The movie blatantly has a go at how these communist nations allegedly altered history to suit themselves. Stalin allegedly did this to make him look like he was really close to Lenin when he was not. America subtly does this with their claims that World War 1 started in 1917 and World War II begins in 1942, the years they became involved in both wars. This is done more as a joke than as an attack, because now communist has gone and everybody can live happily in the marvelous freedom that a democracy brings. Yet Fran is extremely cynical about democratic politicians as she quotes "they're politicians, you can't trust them." Beautician and the Beast is really a remake of Sound of Music with the music replaced with comedy. The movie blatantly steals from the original with the clothes made out of sheets. There are a lot of similarities, a nanny coming in to take care of a very powerful man's children. In Sound of Music he was a Nazi commander while in this movie he is a communist dictator.The last interesting thing to note is when Pochenko is addressing the peasants from a balcony. They scream and cheer at his words. He then walks into the building and Joy Miller (Fran Desure) walks out and thrusts her arms into the air and the crowd cheers. This strikes Pochenko with the fact that it is not him that they cheer, but rather anybody who stands there. Fear is thrust onto people whereas respect is earned.

Amy Adler Joy Miller (Fran Drescher) is a night school hair instructor in the New York City area. One evening, the classroom catches on fire and Joy saves the day, hustling everyone out of the building. Her beautiful picture ends up in the local papers. It just so happens that a minister from the eastern European country of Slovetzia is looking for a teacher for the ruler's children and he hires Joy, not realizing that she teaches cosmetology alone. Only after the two of them land in Slovetzia does the truth come out. Never mind, Joy tells the public servant, she will do her best to teach those kids. The country's leader, Boris (Timothy Dalton), however, is a no-nonsense guy who rules his family and his country with an iron fist. Indeed, Slovetzia is depressingly similar to the Soviet Union at its worst. Boris is struck by Joy's charm and beauty but insists there will be no goofing off in the classroom. The children are sweet but one daughter, especially, longs for a bit more freedom. Can Joy bring a touch of democracy and levity to the dismal country? This darling little film will please both fans of romantic comedy and those who love Drescher. If "The Nanny" was your cat's meow, you will adore this film that came out years before, for it is strikingly similar. Indeed, Drescher and Dalton make a dynamite combination and are very pleasing. The rest of the cast is adequately pleasant. The costumes, especially Drescher's, are quite nice and the scenery and ruling palace are lovely. As for the script, it is funny and touching and the direction has energy. Therefore, if you love those comic tales of affection, skip the beauty parlor and head to the video store instead. You can get your hair done another day but you need this little jolt of sunshine, on film, immediately.

clairus99 "She was there to sell make-up, but the Eastern European dictator saw more.""She had style, she had flair, she was there - that's when she became - the teacher!"Exactly the same sort of "Miss Fine!!" situations.I haven't seen the whole thing, but I'm assuming that he'll tell her he loves her, and then will take it back. She'll re-mould him from being a stere0typical stuffed shirt and everyone will love her. The kids will fall in love with her and she'll be their rock. Eventually the dictator will stop living in denial and finally marry her, go through a few formal embarrassing situations and in the end they'll have boy and girl twins.I just miss the desperate dictator's assistant, her banter with the cheeky butler and the mother who drops in every five minutes to eat something.

jpdonoso What do you expect? It's just entertainment business. And being such it works. Fran Drescher has her fans coming from The Nanny. Timothy Dalton gives the touch of quality acting and leading handsome actor prestige. Ken Kwapis - the director - has an expertize in TV series (including the famous ER among others). The plot is a blended mixture of The King and I, The Sound of Music, The Beauty and the Beast, The Nanny,etc., all following the proved successful formula of routine entertainment for masses. So, what do we get? A typical USA yarn showing how easy things can be solved in movies when some naive good looking Brooklyn girl strikes the heart of a stupid foreign dictator. Flattering money worth for spectators who just want to have a couple of laughs watching familiar faces - and situations - on the screen.