A review of The Ugly Truth

I seem to have a soft spot for Romantic Comedies. They’re kind of like chocolate chip cookies; I know the recipe and I know how it’s going to end but I can’t stop eating them. So I shamelessly went to see The Ugly Truth and honestly I liked it.

Short Version: Decent Romantic Comedy, a little coarse, with good actors.

*Warning Mild Spoilers*

Story
An English teacher once told me that the formula for a standard Romantic Comedies was always a take on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. It’s certainly close to the truth with The Ugly Truth. It has a few twists a lot of verbal sparring and in the end the couple gets together.

It has a simple and easy story, the strength of which is in it’s dialogue. Like Shakespeare the dialogue is quick and at times almost musicale in cadence.

Pacing
It started out a little slow and awkward but once we were introduced to the main characters it took off very well. It had few annoying moments and switched quickly. If you want to take a washroom break, the best time is when she’s just met the doctor, or later when you see him in a monkey suit.

Acting
I have to say that I have a soft spot for Gerard Butler, I’ve liked everything I’ve seen him in, he has range of character and, as my wife mentioned, is one of the few men who can manage to act with their whole face. His facial expressions are reminiscent of Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. That said this must have been a pretty easy role for him. He pulled off the nuances of a “hurt macho creep who’s really a good guy” very well but it couldn’t have been much of an acting challenge for him.

Katherine Heigl played her part well and I don’t think many could have played it in the same way but it was the same character she usually plays; an uptight business woman, who is neurotic. You can make a case that there are nuances in her roles but you can’t argue that they’re very big. She needs to quickly play something completely different before she becomes typecast. I suggest a nice action movie like True Lies or a romantic comedy with a taste of My Fair Lady.

The secondary characters were amazing as well.

Production Value
It’s a romantic comedy and didn’t have the greatest of special effects but the dancing was very well done, gave me the impression of two amateurs dancing in a Spanish club. The editing, cutting, and camera work were well done and it showed that they put effort into continuity.

Overall
An entertaining popcorn movie with lots of great verbal sparring and one of my favourite lines. Butler tells Heigl that “No man is going to want to f*** you if you don’t want to F*** yourself.” Showing that if she doesn’t find herself attractive no one else will.

I give it an 8 on 10.

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