Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl - 27 Dresses) is a career-driven morning show producer who over-thinks all of her relationships. When ratings plummet on the show her boss makes the radical call of bringing in a new, controversial presenter to mix things up. Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler - 300) is everything Abby can't stand - an alpha male who rubbishes the notion of love but has a keen eye for relationships and matters of the heart. His no-holds-barred attitude and unconventional style makes the morning show a huge hit and even Abby begrudgingly accepts that Mike does know what men really want out of a woman. When an attractive doctor moves in next door to Abby, she decides to take Mikes advice to reel in her man. Mike is so confident he can get the good doctor to fall for Abby that he puts his job on the line. If she doesn't end up with him, he will leave the show and get out of Abby's hair for good. But spending so much time together soon complicates things as Abby and Mike prove that sometimes, opposites do attract.
The beautiful Katherine Heigl is fast becoming a reliable name in the ranks of the polished romantic comedy. 27 Dresses was a very entertaining film and she definitely has the credentials when it comes to acting - anyone who made it through Grey's Anatomy season 2 will lay testament to this. The Ugly Truth is perhaps her finest turn yet in a film that entertains throughout and has a lot of heart thrown in for good measure. Heigl is simple excellent as Abby, the slightly awkward beauty who just can't seem to hold onto a good relationship. Her rapport with Butler is excellent too, evoking the spirit of old Cary Grant films - albeit a little cruder in parts. She even acts as an executive producer on the film which further shows that she is an actress on the up in Hollywood.
Any rom-com is only as good as the chemistry it generates between its two stars and the makers of The Ugly Truth hit the jackpot with the casting of Gerard Butler. He is everything a good romantic lead should be but with an unconventional twist. He plays the male lead as a quite realistic example of what men really think of relationships - this is, of course, exaggerated for the purposes of the film but it still makes for some great exchanges. The two really deliver and helps make The Ugly Truth such a rewarding watch. He proves once again that there are more strings to his bow than just playing the muscular action hero. Both he and Heigl make a great on-screen couple.
The supporting cast all fare well too. Cheryl Hines (of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame) and John Michael Higgins are great as the married on-air anchors to the morning show who are going through a barren spell in their relationship. Bree Turner excites as Joy, the best friend and PA to Abby and Eric Winter is very funny as the object of Abby's affections. The comedy ranges from subtle to slapstick yet it all works well onscreen and makes the 96 min runtime just fly by. The film is shot beautifully too, maybe something that is lost in movies like this. Director Robert Luketic deserves a lot of credit here. The film also has a cool soundtrack utilizing the skills of Katy Perry, Natasha Bedingfield, Flo Rida and Nikka Costa to good effect.
The DVD comes loaded with extras including commentary on selected scenes, deleted/extended scenes, alternate endings and a gag reel. The release also features two featurettes taking you behind-the-scenes of the movie.
The Ugly Truth is one of the best comedies we've seen in ages. With strong and engaging performances from Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler it will leave you smiling throughout and guarantees you a great evening out. With so many rom-coms clogging up our multiplexes, it's nice to find a real gem amongst them all. The truth is clear, you will love this film.
ShareThis
