“The Beauty Inside” is an online, social movie that premiered on Facebook last Monday, September 18. It’s broken up into six four- to seven-minute episodes,” and follows the story of Alex, who has a “condition” in which he wakes up in a different body every day. He has the same personality, likes and dislikes, the same thoughts, and the same job. He also has a giant closet of men’s and women’s clothing and a foot-measuring device because he needs to tailor to his new body every day.

This ‘social’ movie is unique because of the input the audience had. The episodes aired separately on “The Beauty Inside” Facebook timeline, and audience members can audition to play Alex and record a video of what they think Alex should feel like. He tracks all of his different bodies by keeping a video diary, which we get to see throughout. (Even now, many people are sending in videos of their Alex, still visible one the timeline.)

Topher Grace (“That 70’s Show”) voices Alex’s inner monologue with a shy awkwardness. Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”) plays Leah, a girl he meets in an antique shop he visits every day. Alex waits for the day when he wakes up in a good-looking body so he can ask Leah out for one day and they spend a night gallivanting around a closed museum.

This movie isn’t extremely well made, but the premise on which it’s based on is a good one and he fact that the audience can take part in a Hollywood movie is a new step in social media. If they make more, which I’m sure they will, I hope they put a little more work into it. The writing is good, the idea is original, the message is clear, and the acting isn’t bad, but there’s something missing that would make this a really good movie. “The Beauty Inside” can be improved, but it’s still worth watching.

Watch “The Beauty Inside” online.

3.5/5