The newest book-to-screen adaptation, “Uglies,” hit Netflix exclusively on Sept. 13, surprising many with its underlying message about the danger of trying to achieve unrealistic beauty standards.
Based on the beloved YA book franchise by Scott Westerfeld, the movie “Uglies” was highly anticipated by fans excited to see their favorite characters come to life on screen. As a fan of the books, I was eager to see how the movie would capture the same futuristic, dystopian atmosphere that Westerfeld delivered in the books. Book-to-screen adaptations in the dystopian genre, such as “The Hunger Games” and “Divergent,” tend to perform well. However, it is challenging to make a movie that fully meets fans’ expectations of what they imagined while reading. Nonetheless, many enthusiasts were curious to see if the movie would meet their expectations or be a disappointment.
“Uglies” takes place in a future world where everyone undergoes mandatory plastic surgery at age 16 to become “Prettys,” the most beautiful versions of themselves possible. They live in a glamorous city where they only party and have fun. Tally (Joey King) is a 15-year-old who dreams of getting her surgery and becoming a Pretty, like her best friend Peris (Chase Stokes). While waiting for her birthday, Tally meets and befriends rebellious Shay (Brianne Tju), who tells her about an underground resistance group in the wilderness. Shay runs away to join the rebels, and the city’s leaders enlist Tally to find her and take down the renegades. As Tally lives among the rebels, she starts to learn that there’s a hidden cost to being a Pretty.
Anyone who loves the action, adventure, and romance that the dystopian genre delivers in abundance is sure to enjoy this movie. The movie’s futuristic atmosphere will draw the viewer in from the first scene. The soundtrack, ranging from symphonic to techno, beautifully contrasts the high-tech world in which Tally was born and the wilderness she escapes to. Furthermore, the portrayal of Tally’s emotional and physical journey is depicted perfectly through her newfound relationships and understanding that beauty can only be found within.
The movie’s runtime falls just short of two hours. While some say there were unnecessary filler scenes, I think the movie’s end made up for that, with its conclusion opening the possibility of a sequel. Overall, “Uglies” met my expectations both as a reader of the book and a viewer of the movie. I highly recommend this movie and hope there will be news of a potential sequel soon.