I watched The Uglies as soon as it came out and genuinely enjoyed itāthough I know there are fans of the book who might call that blasphemy! Hereās the catch: Iām rating this as a movie, not as a live-action adaptation of the beloved novel. For those upset by deviations from the book, I get it. If the Harry Potter movies had been butchered, Iād have been livid too. But, full disclosure, Iām the poster child for aliteracyāI avoid books at all costs.
That said, if we evaluate this movie as just another Netflix offering, itās as solid as many others theyāve given us. Joey King as Tally and Brianne Tju as Shay deliver great performances in their respective roles. While the writing and directing arenāt always top-notch, the movie still holds its own. Watching it, I couldnāt help but think of Divergentājust with a bit less polish.
The world of the Pretties is portrayed beautifully. Itās vibrant, glamorous, and oozes allure, making it easy to see why everyone wants to become āprettyā the moment theyāre of age. The visual design alone adds a lot to the movieās appeal.
One thing I appreciated was the pacing. Often with the first installment of a book-based franchise, the setup can drag as it introduces the characters and world. That wasnāt the case hereāThe Uglies moves along at a solid pace without feeling bogged down by exposition.
If youāre on the fence about what to watch next, give The Uglies a whirl. Itās entertaining, visually appealing, and worth checking outāespecially if you go in with an open mind. What do you have to lose?
