The highly anticipated film Uglies, based on Scott Westerfeld’s beloved novel, has finally graced the big screen. Reading the book as a kid made me feel like I was ok to be who I am.
The movie was directed by McG and written by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson. The main characters include Tally Youngblood who is played by Joey King, Chase Stokes as Peris, Keith Powers as David, and Brianne Tju as Shay. The actors were right for their job, they did a great job at portraying their characters. The actors excel in their roles, convincingly bringing their characters to life.
The movie is about a dystopian society where at 16 they go through a procedure to become perfect, to become “pretty”. Tally is willing to do anything pretty and join her best friend Peris, but her perspective shifts after meeting Shay, who exposes her to the realities beyond the “pretty” society.
The movie tries to criticize how much our culture focuses on looks, but it doesn’t quite succeed because the story isn’t deep or moving. The fast pace makes it hard to develop the characters, so they end up feeling rushed and not very engaging. The dialogue is often cliché, making the characters seem flat and preventing viewers from really connecting with them. One big issue is the lack of character growth, which stands out because of the simple conversations and predictable interactions, especially in the beginning. Because of these problems, the characters feel stuck and underdeveloped, leaving the audience wanting more substance and a stronger connection to their journeys and struggles.
I would recommend Uglies to someone who wants to see a good action movie that prioritizes the plot over character. However, for fans of the original novel, the adaptation might not live up to expectations, as the nuances and intricacies of the beloved characters are often oversimplified. Long-time readers might find the movie lacking compared to the book that they once cherished. As a fan of the book I couldn’t wait to watch the movie, but it was more of a flop.
