The Ugly Truth Movie Review

A Romantic Comedy Starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler

Aug 1, 2009 Nicole Skutelnik

This has been a great summer for romantic comedies and The Ugly Truth is leading the pack.

The Proposal starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock topped the box office charts in its opening weekend, grossing over $33 million. Despite its (for lack of a better word) silly trailers, the film was heart-warming, satisfying and surprisingly not corny. The same can be said for The Ugly Truth, starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler.

Summary of The Ugly Truth

The film follows Abby, an uptight control-freak who is having troubles in love and life. Although she does make time for dating, she’s rarely asked out a second time thanks to her comprehensive background checks and list of 10 things she requires in a man. Naturally, these tend to scare off her potential beaus.

Meanwhile, Abby is always struggling at work. The ratings for her morning show are at an all time low, and as producer, it’s her job to boost them back up. But the problem is solved against her will when Mike Chadway, the host of a crude talk show called The Ugly Truth, joins her team. Mike is an anti-love, pro-lust chauvinist who claims to know exactly how all guys think and is not afraid to prove it. He takes Abby under his wing, and instructs her in the art of seduction. He changes her look, her style and her attitude, all so she can win the heart of her physically-perfect neighbor.

But, naturally, as their working relationship grows, so does their personal relationship. Their chummy bond quickly becomes something more, and Mike, the love antagonist, is the first to see it. Now that Abby has her neighbor eating out of the palm of her hand, will she really have a change of heart?

Review

The Ugly Truth does not have a single down moment. It’s funny, enlightening, competitive and poignant. Abby (Katherine Heigl) and Mike (Gerard Butler) both have such strong personalities with very distinct views on love and life that their characters are magnetic: sometimes they repel, fighting, cursing and verbally abusing one another; and other times they attract with such a strong and undeniable force.

For the Ladies

Fans of Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and Butler (P.S. I Love You) will love their charismatic personalities and convincing chemistry. Women who aren’t compelled to see the film because Gerard Butler isn’t on the top of their celebrity hot list should definitely reconsider. Despite his vulgar remarks and one-sided outlooks on love, his character has a suave confidence that the majority of woman find alluring. But not all women like the rugged, unshaved front. Thankfully, the neighbor/doctor’s clean-cut appearance will appeal to the other half of female movie-going population.

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The Ugly Truth