The story of Beauty and the Beast has been morphed into many films and various other types of media, all targeting different demographics. Beastly, a teen-aimed flick, follows along with the same theme as last year’s TV show True Beauty where contestants had to find their true inner beauty to be a winner.

Kyle (Alex Pettyfer), a seventeen-year-old pampered and superficial high school student, is really clueless. When making a speech before his schoolmates, he expounds on the idea that beautiful people deserve everything and ugly people nothing. But when his attack gets more personal -- criticizing fellow student Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen) -- he might have chosen the wrong girl. Some of his friends say she’s a witch, but maybe it’s just her Goth attire and her take-no-bull attitude that creates this illusion.

Deciding she’s had enough, Kendra gives Kyle his comeuppance by casting a spell on him during a party. She covers his body with off-putting art work -- and the spell, which will last a year, will be undone only if he finds someone to truly love him.

Part of Kyle’s detachment from emotion comes from the fact that his mother walked away from their home years before and that his rich, too busy father (Peter Krause) thinks love means buying someone something. Dad is so embarrassed by Kyle’s appearance he buys a condo and sticks Kyle there with housekeeper Zola (LisaGay Hamilton) and Will (Neal Patrick Harris), a blind tutor. The two of them actually work well in tandem. Zola taps into the sensitive side of Kyle and helps to build his emotional confidence. Will -- perceptive without sight -- offers lessons about life and suggestions about acting on his decision to pursue a certain girl.

That girl is Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), a fellow schoolmate Kyle previously gave a cold shoulder to. When he encounters her on one of his late night outings hiding inside his hoodie, he begins to observe her in kind acts. After Lindy’s life is threatened by a thug, Kyle takes her to his place for protection. The two become friends even though Kyle won’t unveil himself to Lindy for fear she’ll reject him. Being around her every day, he falls in love with her. Lindy, however, has plans to leave the country, so Kyle may miss out on his chance to become normal again

Performances are fine here, especially that of Hudgens, but I had a hard time believing the U.K’s Pettyfer (I Am Number Four) as a teenager. Beastly, based on Alex Flinn’s young adult novel, will definitely appeal to teen girls; anyone else will accompany them only if they have true inner beauty.

(Released by CBS Films, Inc. and rated “PG-13” for language including crude comments, brief violence and some thematic material.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.