The truth about ‘The Ugly Truth’ is that it’s ugly

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The Trav & SHE movie of the week: The Ugly Truth
“The Ugly Truth” is playing at the Malco Cinema 12 and the Carmike 14 in Fort Smith, and the Malco in Van Buren. Link here for ticket info and show times.

SHE: I was not looking forward to viewing “The Ugly Truth” but I comforted myself with the fact that it runs for only 96 minutes and features Gerard Butler. Yummy! Never mind the fact that once again Hollywood wants to remind me that it’s not enough to be beautiful, smart, and not homeless. I am just a shell of a woman unless I have a man to complete me. And not just any man mind you! If I’m the girl-next-door looking for the All-American Dream, I must have marriage, children and happily ever after! Um, what’s that you smell? Yep, that’s Dove. Let’s put the soap box away and see if the movie that threatens to be unavoidably obvious and conventional can also be entertaining.

Trav: Knowing about the short runtime was no comfort to me. I don’t dislike romantic comedies and chick flicks because I’m a guy and I’m supposed to not like them. I dislike them because they’re predictable. It’s almost a guarantee the male and female lead end up in a relationship by the end of the flick. I’ll admit it though, I watch them when there isn’t anything else to pick from at the theater. I’ve even seen a good chick flick or two.  For me a chick flick can be labeled a good movie if the story of how they go from single-to-relationship is entertaining.

SHE: There was that predictable moment in the film – you all know it, the “misunderstanding.” It’s part of the formula in every one of these movies. Maybe he’s interested? Maybe she’s interested? One of them puts themselves out there and takes a risk. Of course, the timing is all wrong and the risk-taker walks away hurt, not truly knowing what is going on. That’s when the credits should roll! Forget the love! Forget the extra 30 minutes of predictable formula just to get to the “The Pretty Woman” ending!

Trav: I found my predictable moment after watching the trailer for “The Ugly Truth” a couple of months ago. I felt like I could predict my way through this movie: An unlikable professional woman has standards too high and is just too darn busy for love. All of the sudden a loud-mouthed chauvinist is dropped into the woman’s life and he is automatically hated by her … just because. It turns out the guy isn’t all that bad after all.  Somehow, with the use of smoke and mirrors, they fall in love. Roll the credits.

SHE: Here are a few more things Trav could probably predict: Within the first 2 minutes, I couldn’t stand the Katherine Heigl character. She made me stabby. The loud-mouthed chauvinist? Lurved him. He was likable and endearing. But enough of the stereotypes and my own biases, is “The Ugly Truth” entertaining? The story was tired and predictable. The music was uninspired. While there was a strong supporting cast, save for Heigl’s love interest, we didn’t see enough of them. For whatever reason, the director chose to include a couple montage scenes that were so cheesy; I felt self-conscious but I’m still unsure why.

Trav: Speaking of music, the opening song to a movie can set the tone for me. Too bad the powers-that-be behind “They Ugly Truth” picked Katy Perry’s "Hot N Cold" for the opening credits. As the song rang from the speakers I found myself filling up with regret for purchasing a ticket. SHE didn’t like the Heigl character and I didn’t like Butler’s. I thought Butler dominated the screen as King Leonidas in “300,” but his bad American accent and forced charm irked me throughout this movie. While I wasn’t surprised I didn’t like characters, something that did surprise me about the flick was the language and blatant sexual dialogue without innuendo. I just assumed I was going to another PG-13 chick flick, but to my surprise “The Ugly Truth” was rated R.

SHE: I guess Trav hasn’t spent enough time with the right chicks because this is how we talk all the time. Evidently, this is not how all chicks talk because there was enough laughter in the theater at some of the lame sexual language jokes that again I felt self-conscious but was unsure why. I laughed a few times but more often than not my reaction was, "Really? That was considered funny?" I entered the theater with my requisite 5 snacks. I ate 2 snacks to stay awake, and ate 2 more to keep from stabbing anyone. “The [awful] Ugly Truth” makes it out with only 1 out of 5 snacks. Wait until it’s on cable and make it a margarita night.

Trav: My recommendation — If its date night, watch “The Proposal” while it’s still in theaters. Skip “The Ugly Truth” or wait for it to come out on DVD. Just don’t waste your cash at the theater. It has its moments when you think its going to break the chick flick mold, but it never does. If you feel like you just have to watch it, rent it. “The Ugly Truth” did nothing to change my mind about chick flicks — if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all. It’s another predictable movie that gets a a 2 out of 5.
www.myspace.com/proposalmovie

PREVIEWS
• I Can Do Bad All by Myself (Sept. 11)
Trav: Another Tyler Perry movie where he’s dressed up like an old lady.  Didn’t Madea go to jail earlier this year?

SHE: I am proud to say I have never seen a Tyler Perry movie. Am I a comic snob? Probably. Go ahead, judge me. But, guess what? I can do bad all by myself – love, SHE.

• Couples Retreat (Oct. 9)
Trav: This looks like a chick flick disguised as an unfunny comedy. The cast looks great, you get Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Malin Akerman, Kristen Bell and Jon Favreau. I’m just worried this could be one of those movies where all the funny parts are in the trailer.

SHE: Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, Jon Favreau. Love them! But, not enough to sit through this trash. Yep, I said it. Straight up garbage.

• The Stepfather (Oct. 16)
Trav: Knowing this is a remake of a 1987 film doesn’t make me want to see it. I’ve seen the original. It starred Terry O’Quinn (John Locke from Lost) as the stepfather. The remake stars one of the doctors on Nip/Tuck. I’ll probably just watch the original again.

SHE: Looks interesting but I knew right away Trav wouldn’t want to watch it. He’s not a fan of scary movies. I don’t think it looks too scary – looks more like my adolescence. Having said that, I don’t think I want to experience it again. Next!

• Julie & Julia (Aug. 7)
Trav: Do. Not. Want. This is a movie about Julia Child (played by Meryl Streep) when she was in France at culinary school intertwined with the story of a present day female blogger, Julie Powell (played by Amy Adams), as she cooks her way through one of Child’s books and blogs about it … yawn.

SHE: I think this looks great! Two great actresses, food, and seemingly great writing? Sign me up!

Feedback
Trav can can be reached at [email protected]

SHE can be reached at [email protected]