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Uglies (film)

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Uglies
Release poster
Directed byMcG
Screenplay by
Based onUglies
by Scott Westerfeld
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyXiaolong Liu
Edited by
  • Martin Bernfeld
  • Brad Besser
Music byEdward Shearmur
Production
companies
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • September 13, 2024 (2024-09-13)
Running time
102 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Uglies is a 2024 American science fiction drama film directed by McG and written by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson. Based on the novel Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, the plot centers around a future post-apocalyptic dystopian society in which people are considered "ugly" until they become "pretty" by enduring extensive cosmetic surgery at the age of 16. The film stars Joey King, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, Jan Luis Castellanos, Charmie Lee, and Laverne Cox.

Uglies was released by Netflix on September 13, 2024, and received negative reviews from critics.

Plot

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In the future, the world has fallen into chaos after exhausting all natural resources. To keep humanity alive, scientists first create genetically modified orchids that are a new energy source, and second, a surgical procedure to make people pretty; this way, everyone's perfection will not cause any further chaos. The surgery is performed on "Uglies" when they are 16, before allowing them to the City where celebration occurs as the "Pretties".

Tally and her best friend Peris are Uglies, but Peris being 3 months older, leaves for his surgery first. Tally and Peris share scars on their hands which they vow to keep despite the Pretty procedure. They vow to remain friends and meet again after their procedures.

Tally, anxious to see Peris again, sneaks into the city. She is shocked by his appearance, and his different personality. The scar they vowed to keep is gone. Tally is discovered and flees the Wardens, who chase her back to the dormitories of the Uglies. Later, she befriends Shay, a rebellious Ugly who tells her about "The Smoke," a land of freedom in tune with nature. Shay encourages Tally to join her, to reject the surgery, seek out The Smoke and its leader David. Tally refuses.

On her 16th birthday, she is denied her procedure until she tells Dr. Cable, the leader of the operations, where Shay is. She is told that David is dangerous and he will hurt Shay, and that he is also building a weapon. Tally is sent as a spy into The Smoke, reunites with Shay, and meets David.

As she begins to grow close with David, he and his family reveal the truth about the surgeries: they limit human brain capacity in order for the Pretties to be controlled easily. A select few are given a cure to become the scientists surrounding the whole scheme. David's parents worked as some of those scientists until they discovered the truth and fled. Ever since, they've been working to develop the cure themselves. Tally also finds out that the orchid energy source is toxic to nature and that's why The Smoke rebels set them on fire to wipe them out. Tally and David share a moment together, and she tosses her tracker into the fire after renouncing the system and rejecting her chance to become a Pretty.

Her tracker is still active and signals Dr. Cable, who arrives with troops to round up the rebels. After Peris, who was modified to be a near-invincible soldier, kills David's father, and discovers Tally has turned traitor. Still, she convinces David to take her with him to free the captured rebels.

Upon arrival, everyone is freed, except Shay who already underwent her procedure. Completely changed and oblivious to her previous cause, she is taken with the rebels to a safe spot after David's mother steals the final piece to her cure. Yet, she does not want to administer the cure on Shay due to Shay being unwilling.

Tally volunteers to undergo the surgery and test the cure. She swears she will not let being Pretty change her drive for justice. She bids David and her friends goodbye.

The film ends with a Pretty Tally living in the city, but implies she kept her promise to the rebels, as we see her childhood scar remains.

Cast

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Production

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In 2006, a feature film adaptation of Uglies was announced to be in development when 20th Century Fox purchased the film rights to the novel, with John Davis attached as producer.[2] In September 2020, the project re-entered development with Joey King signing on to star in the lead role as Tally Youngblood and serve as executive producer for the film. King signed onto the project, after previously being a fan of the Uglies novels.[3][4]

McG signed on to direct, while Krista Vernoff was hired to write the script. John Davis, Jordan Davis, Robyn Meisinger, Dan Spilo, McG, and Mary Viola produced. The project is a joint-venture production between Davis Entertainment Company, Anonymous Content, Industry Entertainment, and Wonderland Sound and Vision.[5][6] Later that year, Keith Powers, Brianne Tju, Chase Stokes, and Laverne Cox joined the supporting cast.[3][4] In February 2022, King revealed that production had already finished, and had taken place in Atlanta in December 2021.[7]

Release

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Uglies was released on Netflix on September 13, 2024.[8] The film amassed 20 million views in its first three days (September 13–15).[9]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 15% of 46 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "It's what's on the inside that counts, but unfortunately Uglies doesn't have much going on in there, either."[10] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 34 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Uglies (12)". British Board of Film Classification. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  2. ^ Fleming, Michael (June 25, 2006). "'Uglies' sitting pretty". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (October 18, 2019). "Netflix's Joey King Fantasy Pic 'Uglies' Adds Keith Powers, Brianne Tju & Chase Stokes". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Grobar, Matt (December 2, 2021). "Laverne Cox Joins McG's Netflix Fantasy Film 'Uglies'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 29, 2020). "Joey King To Star And Exec Produce Netflix's Adaptation of 'Uglies' With McG Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  6. ^ El-Mahmoud, Sarah (October 4, 2020). "Why Now Is The Right Time For Scott Westerfeld's YA Classic Uglies To Come To Netflix". CinemaBlend. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  7. ^ El-Mahmoud, Sarah (February 15, 2022). "Joey King Has An Exciting Update About Adapting The YA Bestseller Uglies For Netflix". CinemaBlend. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  8. ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (July 15, 2024). "Joey King's new movie Uglies confirms Netflix release date". Digital Spy. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Campione, Katie (September 17, 2024). "Rebel Ridge Continues Netflix Reign As The Perfect Couple Tops TV; Emily In Paris Season 4B & Uglies Debut In Second Place". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "Uglies". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 14, 2024.
  11. ^ "Uglies". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
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