In a future post scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is considered an "ugly," but then turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery when they reach the age of 16. It tells the story of teenager Tally Youngblood who rebels against society's enforced conformity.
Uglies. Another day, another teen dystopia. At this point, I'm convinced Hollywood has a checklist: futuristic society? Check. Attractive young cast? Check. Oppressive social structure with mandatory cosmetic surgery? Oh, that's new… kinda. Okay, well, check that too. In Uglies, we have a world where everyone is required to go through extreme cosmetic surgery to become "Pretty" at 16 because, well, God forbid anyone embraces their acne-prone, braces-wearing, prepubescent awkward phase for even a nanosecond longer than necessary.
But here's the kicker: Joey King stars as Tally Youngblood, a scrappy 15-year-old who, shocker, isn’t thrilled about getting her face sliced and diced. And guess what? In real life, she's 25. I get it, Hollywood. Aging's a nightmare. But Joey King playing a teenager at 25 is almost too on-brand for this movie's obsession with artificial youth. That said, she gives it her all. She's been a fan of the books for years, and you can tell this role is a dream come true for her. Honestly, more power to Joey for finally landing her Tally dream job, but the irony is thick here, folks.
Speaking of the books, this flick is based on Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series, which, to be fair, was YA gold in the mid-2000s. But somewhere between the four-book series and its spin-offs, it seems like they threw all the complexity of the world-building into a blender and hit puree, hoping no one would notice. What they did manage to keep intact is that dystopian atmosphere that feels a lot like we've seen this before. You remember The Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner, right? Yeah, it's like those, but with a skincare routine you could only dream of. Call it The FaceTuner Games.
What I Liked:
Alright, credit where credit's due. If you're a teenager, you’re probably going to dig this movie. It’s got all the ingredients for a teenage dystopian cake: attractive cast, cool-looking tech, angsty rebellion, and that sweet, sweet "no adults understand us" energy. Teens will see themselves in Tally’s struggle to define herself outside of society's expectations, even if that society involves mandatory plastic surgery.
Joey King’s Tally has enough spark to keep you interested, and Brianne Tju, who plays her best friend Shay, delivers that perfect blend of ride-or-die loyalty with just a dash of rebel. Keith Powers as David? Well, let’s just say he’s pretty. Which, I suppose, is on-brand. He’s charming, sure, but the character development feels a little… thin, like the plot on a slow Tuesday.
The visuals? Yeah, they're cool. And the concept—being forced into beauty conformity—has potential to be biting social commentary. At times, it kinda hits the mark, tapping into that endless Instagram scroll of #nofilter self-loathing. But...
What I Disliked:
Let me just say, when a movie hits you with not-so-subtle climate change messages, you have to wonder if they’re just trying to win the “2024 Most Woke” award. It’s not that I’m against a little environmental consciousness (I recycle, alright?), but when the film makes it so ham-fisted, it feels more like a PSA than a plot point. Listen, I'm here for dystopian rebellion, not a lecture on saving the planet—though if they had tossed in a plot twist where the ozone layer gets Botox too, I'd be more on board.
Predictability? Oh, it’s here. I called the entire plot by the second act, and I’m not even a Uglies book reader. But to be fair, maybe teens need the script to be painted with big, broad brushstrokes. After all, they’re busy flipping between TikTok and texting.
Oh, and the cliffhanger. Yep. The film just ends. Just as you’re settling in for a nice third-act resolution, the movie hits you with the ol’ “To be continued.” Nothing says “We’re aiming for a franchise” like a cliffhanger that leaves you staring at the screen wondering, “Wait, that’s it?!” So yeah, if you hate waiting for sequels that may or may not happen (here’s looking at you, Divergent), prepare to be mildly irritated.
The Final Verdict:
So, what are we left with here? Well, Uglies is fine. It’s got that mid-2000s YA dystopian nostalgia that might pull you in if you were a fan of the books. And sure, teens will probably love it, but for anyone who’s already made it through the Hunger Games marathon or trudged through Maze Runner territory, it’s going to feel like a second helping of leftovers. Tasty enough, but a little underwhelming by the time you’ve reached the bottom of the plate.
For all its face-lifted futuristic goodness, Uglies doesn’t quite dig deep enough into its potential to make you really ponder the price of beauty. But hey, it’s still a fun ride with decent performances, and if you can suspend your disbelief about a 25-year-old playing a 15-year-old, you might just enjoy it.
Rating: 6.7/10
Let’s face it, Uglies might not be the prettiest movie on the block, but it’s definitely worth a watch if you’re into teen dystopias with a side of superficial surgery. Plus, Joey King fans will absolutely eat it up, even if the movie’s face-lift doesn’t quite go deep enough to cover up the wrinkles.
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