Beautician and the Beast, The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: -1/2

In this very funny romantic comedy, Fran Drescher, star of "The Nanny" TV series, plays Joy Miller, an attractive but uneducated beautician living in Queens, New York. She's a lovable sort who specializes in clever comical quips, although some may tire of her famous New York whine. Still single and living with her parents, she teaches a beauty school class. Through a strange set of circumstances, she's chosen to tutor the four children of the president of a small country in post-communist Eastern Europe. Upon her arrival at the president's mansion, she soon becomes good friends with the president's children, but the stern, forceful "president for life" Boris Pochenko (Timothy Dalton) is appalled by her unsophisticated, outspoken ways. He's also infuriated when Joy helps his older teenage daughter see a young fiery revolutionary she loves. Even so, Boris is attracted to Joy, who encourages him to be a more caring father and compassionate leader. All the while, she gets into comical predicaments and exercises her ever-present wit and humor. This funny, appealing take-off on "The King and I" has some laugh-out-loud comedy as well as some tender moments.

When a PG film comes along, there's always hope it will be a decent film, and this one comes very close. Except for two mild crude words and one slang obscenity, it's virtually free of conventional offensive elements. Boris' teenage son is attracted to Joy and this brings on some mildly suggestive incidents. He paints a near nude portrait of her, but it's shown only briefly. On occasion, Joy is seen some low-cut outfits. But she's a compassionate friend and caretaker for the children and tries to get Boris to be more democratic in his leadership of his country. However, in a typical irritating Hollywood scene, Joy manages to make a comical derogatory quip about Newt Gingrich and the Christian Coalition. Hollywood wouldn't dare make fun of Jews or African-Americans in this manner, and it's very poor public relations to put down Christians, who are such a large part of the movie-going public.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: Paramount Pictures, 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY, 10023-7780