Uglies

Based on the 2005 dystopian novel by Scott Westerfield, Uglies is set in a future society where everyone is considered ‘ugly’ until they reach 16 and undergo extreme cosmetic surgery to make them ‘pretty’.  However, the changes are not only on the surface level as those who become ‘pretty’ also see changes in their personalities to make them more ‘perfect’ to everyone else.  This ‘perfect’ society has kept the world peaceful and organised, with no jealousy or greed leading to conflicts.  However Tally (Joey King) finds her best friend Peris completely changed after his procedure, and another friend Shay flees the city before her 16th birthday to join a resistance movement opposed to the procedure.  Turning 16 herself, Tally is denied treatment until she aids Dr Cable in tracking down the resistance cell called The Smoke that her friend has run off to, and in doing so opens her eyes to the reality of the perfect world she lives in.

First things first, when casting a film about 15 year old ‘uglies’, maybe don’t use a cast that are much older, and certainly not anywhere near the definition of ‘ugly’.  Look, I get that part of the message here is that superficial ideas of what constitutes ‘pretty’ are part of the controlling of the society, but not one person looks the age they are meant to be, and suspending disbelief to accept that Joey King is in any way, shape or form ‘ugly’ is a stretch!

That aside, the concept of the tale feels somewhat Logan’s Run crossed with Divergent, and does hold some social commentary ideas that, back in 2005 when the novel was penned for young adults, would have been considered somewhat prescient – especially when you look to the proliferation of minor cosmetics and insta filters these days making everyone online seemingly want to look like they are sucking on lemons all the time.  However, in the hands of McG, whose output has been very mixed, but edging primarily to the trashy dumb side, any reflections on the world around us are casually glossed over in favour of cheap spectacle, the level of which we have come to expect from the ‘polish’ of Netflix output.

Joey King tries her hardest, but the character of Tally simply isn’t interesting or original enough to care for.  This is a familiar ‘young hero rebelling against a perfect dystopian society’ template, which has been tried, tested and worn out.  Add into the mix that this adaptation of the first book – which itself was written as a proposed trilogy so has no conclusion – simply feels like set-up and exposition for what comes next, and it simply means that this isn’t a complete film in and of itself, with no build up to anything revelatory, being simply background for what I assume would be a war to come in future chapters.  Given the reception to this film I doubt we’ll ever get to see how the tale plays out, and frankly I don’t actually care, even though the cliffhanger ending tries its hardest to offer some shock (it doesn’t).

Uglies is simply another ugly Netflix sci-fi in a dystopian streaming future.