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The Ugly Truth (2009)

Director: Robert Luketic

Time Out rating

Average user rating

7 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Katherine Heigl has been the best thing in many an American rom-com; the frequently miscast Gerard Butler is often the worst. So the pair cancel each other out in this battle-of-the-sexes romp. Heigl is Abby, a single, uptight TV producer keen to boost her daytime show’s ratings. What she didn’t have in mind was a sexist relationship guru – but that’s who her boss hires. In swaggers Mike (Butler), a TV host well-versed in macho banter – think Tom Cruise in ‘Magnolia’, only less funny.

Initially, Abby’s nose is put out of joint, but she turns the situation to her advantage when Mike offers to help her seduce Colin (Eric Winter), the surgeon next door who happens to look like an underwear model. Echoing ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’, Mike watches Abby and Colin on dates, advising her through an earpiece. His advice can be summed up as: wear short skirts, laugh at his jokes, fellate hot dogs. Abby protests, but the fact that Mike is proved right makes this insulting to both sexes.

There are laughs: Heigl can pratfall with the best of them and the hosts of her show – a secretly unhappy couple played by Cheryl Hines and John Michael Higgins – bring dark humour to the table. Despite Butler’s dodgy accent and unappealing character, there is brief chemistry between him and Heigl. But blank-faced Colin doesn’t represent enough competition to make this a credible love triangle, so we’re left with a few giggles and the option to be offended by the gender stereotypes – if we can be bothered.

Author: Anna Smith

Time Out London Issue 2033, 5 - 12 August, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Helen Currie said...

Posted on Aug 29 2009 13:12 Us 'hardcore feminists' enjoyed this entertaining film and found it quite feminist! (We think Heigle probably wouldn't have been in a sexist film.) Harriet Harmon would've probably liked this film, too.x

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kerby said...

Posted on Aug 28 2009 20:54 realy good

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sasha said...

Posted on Aug 24 2009 13:18 This is a very romantic film.you should watch this it 's really funny at times.although it has a lot of sex talk.

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Pink - Tortoise said...

Posted on Aug 12 2009 23:37 This was an enjoyable film with a good few laughs in between. Nearly wet my pants at one scene......... This film is not for prude types as there is lots of sex talk!

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xXLottieXx said...

Posted on Aug 10 2009 12:43 I loved this film! If you love a few dirty jokes and hot twins wrestling in jello, then this is the film for you. Of course it's predictable and sexist, but who cares?! It's not supposed to be a lifechanging film with in-depth events and discussion, its a romantic comedy with plenty of romance and comic moments. The acting is awesome and I found the film hilarious (mostly because I have a dirty mind also). Although I do agree with the 'Ron Burgundy' comment: absolutely unbelievable news programme!! But at the time I didn't care because I was simply enjoying the great chemistry between Abby and Mike, and the brilliant one-liners. One of the best romcoms I have seen in aaages. Just sit back and enjoy it (or skip it completely if you're a hardcore feminist).

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Matt said...

Posted on Aug 08 2009 22:15 A good, solid, enjoyable romantic comedy, mostly just sweet and silly, but often funny. Despite being very predictable, this merits a strong three stars. Only the implausibly rubbish show within a show deprives this film of a fourth star:- a show like that one would never actually be shown on a national network before about 11pm, let alone lead the ratings war, which could break your suspension of disbelief.
"offended by the gender stereotypes"??? Jeez, sounds like the official reviewer's been taking tips from Harriet Harperson (sorry, Harriet Har...per...daughter???). Chill out, woman! It's just a film! And quite predictably the misogynist lead male discovers lurve by the end of the film, thus debunking all his theories, and really making you wonder whether he can continue in his starring role. So in the end the film disproves the sexist message anyway.

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H.elen Berenger said...

Posted on Aug 07 2009 12:33 Good. The Time Out reviewer had this all wrong. As Feminists and Heigl fans we decided to trust our instincts and although inititally Heigl's uptight character wasn't played with quite the right depth/edge the script and actors were more intelligently chosen then the Time Out review led us to believe. It appears a couple relatives of Heigl may have co-produced thisButler was fine as the nemisis...a bit more rugged than your normal Hollywood smoothie type, but this worked. It is played a bit slapstick but it is no 'Taming of The Shrew' ...in fact it turned out quite satisfactorilly for two long term committed feminists.. As the Time Out review already gave too much of the plot I wont do that. It's not the best romcom we ever saw, but we were very happy with it in the end. And there are few romcoms around, if you don't want to see Bruno (please no) and can't manage yet or have already seen Coco Before Chanel what else
is on weekday afternoons for us 241 Orange women.

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