Movie Notes: The Ugly Truth

July 27th, 2009

= 3 stars

Starring Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, John Michael Higgins
Directed by Robert Luketic

Synopsis

Television producer Abby (Katherine Heigl) is failing at ratings and her love life, until the station hires brash dating advice commentator Mike (Gerard Butler). Hilarity ensues.

The Good

• Heigl and Butler do the best with the rote material. I still think Heigl will be the sole breakout star from Grey’s Anatomy, but this is yet another ride in romantic comedy purgatory. Butler meanwhile, despite not being as buff and oiled as in 300, still filled the gruff, male jerkazoid chararcter (much better than Dane Cook playing a similar character in the horrid My Best Friend’s Girl)
• A few chuckle inducing laughs: Abby’s silly happy dance, Mike’s terrible Y-chromosome advice (which makes for great television), and one ridiculous baseball game scene.
• Great supporting cast: Guest mockumentary regular John Michael Higgins plays a clueless news anchor, whose co-anchor wife is Cheryl Hines (Waitress). Also notable is Bree Turner as Abby’s assistant Joy — we have a new Judy Greer.

The Bad

• Offensively predictable plot: opposites attract and eventually fall in love, blah blah blah, you can write the rest in your sleep. See this list.
• Veers uncomfortably to the gross-out half of gross-out comedy: vibrating panties, strawberry jello wrestling, foul language, faked orgasms, and oral sex references.
• Mike is asked point blank why he loves Abby. He admits “I have no idea.” Big problem right there.

Conclusion

I’ve been waiting for Heigl to appear in movie worthy of her talents to follow Knocked Up; this ain’t it. This is rental material at best.

IMDB: The Ugly Truth
Wikipedia: The Ugly Truth
Rotten Tomatoes: The Ugly Truth