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Uglies Movie Review: Joey King Film Is A Lackluster Dive Into Dystopian Beauty
Uglies Movie Review: Despite Joey King’s striking lagoon-blue eyes and youthful look, Uglies renders her character Tally Youngblood’s attractiveness irrelevant. Directed by McG, the film is set in a future where everyone undergoes mandatory cosmetic surgery at 16. Unfortunately, its depiction of beauty is as superficial as the film itself.
Uglies Movie Review: Joey King Film Is A Lackluster Dive Into Dystopian Beauty
About Uglies
Uglies Movie Review: Even in an era dominated by unrealistic photo filters, Joey King remains a striking presence with her lagoon-blue eyes and youthful complexion. Yet, in the world of Uglies, directed by McG, her character Tally Youngblood's physical attractiveness becomes irrelevant. Set in a future where everyone undergoes mandatory cosmetic surgery at 16 to achieve their ideal appearance, the film’s portrayal of beauty is as superficial as its execution.
Dystopian Formula Follows Predictable Patterns
The concept of a society obsessed with uniform beauty is not new. Echoing the themes seen in Michael Bay’s The Island and the Divergent series, Uglies unveils its twist long before it’s fully revealed. In this dystopian future, beauty is manipulated by an Orwellian regime rather than genuinely enhancing society. Tally and her peers are led to believe that past societal inequalities stemmed from physical appearance, leading to an environmental collapse that is now purportedly resolved by a plant-based resource.
Flat Narration and Monotonous Execution
From the start, King’s voiceover lacks emotion, presenting the backstory as if reading from a textbook. This detachment is mirrored throughout the film, which unfolds in a monotonous manner despite the high stakes of its narrative. The writers—Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson—attempt to build Tally’s world and relationships, such as her endearing friendship with Peris (Chase Stokes). However, these relationships feel underdeveloped and fail to add depth to the story.
Predictable Plot Twists and Underwhelming Visuals
The city of the “pretties” is revealed with an uninspired, video game-like aesthetic that fails to stand out. The visual effects of the pretties—creatures with smooth skin and exaggerated features—come across as nothing more than a polished Instagram feed. The film’s twist, when Tally discovers Peris has been brainwashed, lacks originality and fails to surprise. The introduction of Shay (Brianne Tju), who opposes the surgery, and the plot involving The Smoke and Dr. Cable (Laverne Cox) add little excitement, with Dr. Cable’s motives remaining unclear and unconvincing.
Missed Opportunities and Predictable Endings
The film’s exploration of “inner beauty” feels overly clichéd, culminating in a predictable moral lesson about the true cost of beauty. The final act—a battle between good and evil—fails to generate the excitement needed to salvage the film’s lackluster execution. Although the ending hints at potential sequels, the lack of a compelling narrative makes it difficult to be invested in a franchise.
A Dated Premise in a Modern Context
Uglies struggles with its adaptation from Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 novel. While the idea of using artificial beauty projections as a basis for a dystopian world may have been fresh in the mid-2000s, it now feels outdated. The film fails to capture the relevance of its source material, leaving viewers with a sense of obsolescence as Tally’s journey unfolds without real impact.
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