Netflix has been busy releasing a variety of new movies this year, including recent hit “Rebel Ridge,” a surprisingly effective action thriller. One of the latest additions to the streaming service is “Uglies,” a dystopian sci-fi film based on a popular young adult novel. Its high-concept premise and familiar setting in the YA genre has generated quite a bit of buzz even before its release.
Joey King stars in this dystopian film set in a future where enforced beauty standards shape society. I watched “Uglies” because it was on Netflix, and while the film has some interesting elements, it doesn’t stand out among other YA adaptations. That doesn’t mean it’s terrible.
So, is it still worth watching? Here’s everything you need to know about “Uglies” and what critics are saying right now.
What are “Uglies”?
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The Netflix film Uglies is based on a young adult novel by Scott Westerfeld and is set in a dystopian future where society forces everyone to undergo extreme cosmetic surgery to become “beautiful” at the age of 16. The surgery is meant to erase physical imperfections and make everyone fit a narrow definition of beauty, but it also comes with hidden consequences, such as controlling an individual’s thoughts and behavior.
Our protagonist, Tully Youngblood (Joey King), is on the verge of transformation but begins to question the system when her friend Shay (Brianne Tew) decides to go on the run to avoid becoming “Pretty.” Tully is torn between her loyalty to her friend and pressure from the authorities, who threaten to deport her if she doesn’t help them track down Shay.
I just couldn’t take Uglies seriously, and critics seem to think so too.
“Uglies” brings a futuristic dystopian world to Netflix, but despite its promising premise, the film struggles to carve out its own space and doesn’t realize much of its potential. The film focuses on enforced beauty standards and societal norms, but its treatment of these themes often seems too flippant for the seriousness they warrant.
Most of the lack of seriousness comes from the acting. It’s serious, but it doesn’t succeed in giving any depth to the characters. King as Tully has some bright moments, especially when she struggles with being “pretty” and accepting that the standard is harmful. But for the most part, I was reminded of Elle’s character in “What Started with a Kiss” (not a good thing considering it’s not a romantic comedy). So, to be honest, I didn’t care about any particular character and it was hard to take the movie seriously.
That being said, it’s not a love it or hate it. Uglies still provides a good level of entertainment and is watchable to some extent, and the important messages about beauty and self-esteem will especially appeal to younger YA fans. But if you’re looking for a more immersive and impactful experience, I highly recommend diving into this book.
“Uglies” currently has a very low Rotten Tomatoes rating of 25% (as of Sept. 13), and online reviews already seem to agree with me, with TheWrap’s William Bibbiani stating, “This isn’t something to think about or enjoy, it’s something to fill a quota, something for Netflix to tell subscribers that there’s technically a new movie available exclusively this week, quality being out of the question. And in this case, quality certainly was out of the question.”
Meanwhile, Nick Shager of The Daily Beast agreed that the show felt similar to other young adult adaptations, saying, “To say it’s a fourth-generation knock-off of the countless similar young adult novels that have come before would be an understatement.”
Again, I neither love nor hate this movie, so there are some positives I can agree with. Brian Orndorf of the Blu-ray commented on the action: “The movie is not a brute force of action, and McG is starting to do something big with the original, so the explanations are easy to swallow.” I agree, as the movie has enough tension and stakes to make it entertaining.
Should you stream Uglies on Netflix?
Uglies may not be the most innovative entry in the dystopian YA genre, nor does it differentiate itself much from similar films like The Maze Runner and Divergent: its treatment of serious themes is a bit watered down, and the overall effect isn’t as strong as one would hope.
But it does offer some entertainment value, especially for younger YA fans and those looking for a lighter take on familiar themes. If you’re in the mood for a film that combines the common dystopian tropes of these popular series in a more accessible format, “Uglies” may be worth a watch.
Not in the mood? Read our take on the new thrilling psychological thriller “Speak No Evil.” We also have a guide on the top 3 movies worth watching in the top 10 Netflix movies.
Stream “Uglies” on Netflix now.