‘Uglies’ Review: The Filter’s Cranked Up, But The Rebellion Has Deserted

Pretty, or pretty ugly? Here is what we think of Uglies, the latest Joey King sci-fi blockbuster that has been making the rounds online.

As a fan of young adult dystopias, I was ready for Uglies to bring back the rebellious, high-stakes drama we all know and love. We’ve seen a lot of wild dystopias – people fighting to the death for food, factions that make you pick a personality trait, and don’t even get me started on maze-running.

But Uglies? This should’ve been a sharp commentary on beauty standards in 2024, but instead of delivering a powerful punch, Uglies feels more like scrolling through a feed of over-filtered selfies – shiny on the surface, but missing the depth we need. Here’s why this glow-up wasn’t everything we hoped for. Read on for our review, and be warned that spoilers may lie ahead.

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Uglies Review: A glow-up that falls flat

Plot lines and plot holes

In Uglies, when you turn 16, you get the ultimate government-mandated glow-up surgery that transforms you from ‘Ugly’ to ‘Pretty’ (because in this future, apparently imperfect skin is a bigger crime than anything else). Joey King stars as Tally Youngblood, who’s been dreaming of the day she’ll finally get to join the ranks of the flawless Pretties. But when her newfound rebellious bestie Shay suddenly decides to bail on the process and run off to join an anti-surgery rebel group called ‘The Smoke,’ Tally faces a choice: betray her friend to become Pretty or stay Ugly.

Now this could’ve been a juicy dileMMA but here’s where things start to fall apart. Tally ultimately chooses to betray the Smokies (surprise!), getting David’s (Keith Powers) father killed in the process. Here’s where it gets twisted. David, the supposed love interest and leader of the Smokies, is surprisingly chill about the fact that Tally literally caused his dad’s death. His anger should have been dialled up to a 100, but instead, after a bit, he’s kind of just like ‘Eh I still trust you a bit.’ It’s a whole lot of What? Wrapped in Why?

Speaking of Why? Shay and David barely know Tally, yet they trust her way too easily. Shay, you knew Tally was obsessed with the idea of becoming Pretty – how did you not see this betrayal coming? And David? My guy, you’ve known Tally for five seconds. How are you already into her? The whole situation had me wanting to scream at the TV. It feels like the characters’ trust is just thrown around for the sake of the plot, without any real logic behind it.

The betrayal should’ve been the emotional core of Uglies, but instead it lands with a soft thud. In a world where beauty equals power, Tally’s actions should’ve had massive consequences, but everything feels way too easy. It’s almost as if the story is more worried about the visual effects and cheeKBOnes rather than the actual script and plot premise.

Missed opportunities

The movie had plenty of opportunities to deliver those big, memorable scenes, but instead, we got a mix of hopes (I won’t even say ‘high’) and missed opportunities. First up, the hoverboard chase scene. Tally in a full bungee vest and hoverboard mode is supposed to be giving us Back to the Future dystopian vibes, but instead, it feels like a 2008 video Game cutscene. Lots of CGI, very little thrill. It’s like the movie is trying to have a heart-pounding moment, but forgot to add the heart.

Then there’s the Pretty city reveal. It’s supposed to be this utopia of flawless faces and futuristic fashion, but honestly, it looks like someone just slapped Instagram’s heaviest filter on the whole thing. Sure, everyone’s got smooth skin and sharp cheeKBOnes, but where’s the dystopian tension? It looks a lot more like ‘fashion week in space.’ Speaking of Pretty parties, the only thing that really stuck with me during Tally and Peris’s zoom into the Pretty world was the appearance of Lucky B.Smith. Forget plot – my mind was fully occupied by that cameo the whole time.

We also need to take a moment to talk about when Tally finds Peris in the Pretty City and somehow slips in with a disguise. The second she takes off her disguise and reverts to being ‘Ugly,’ no one notices. Really? If being ‘Ugly’ is such a crime in this world, you’d think someone would catch on. But nope, Tally’s just gossiping away undetected. Make it make sense. Lastly, let’s not forget David. David, who is played by Keith Powers, is supposed to be an ‘Ugly’? I guess this is definitely dystopian, because in the real world, nobody would believe that.

 Final Thoughts: Pretty people, pretty predictable

Uglies had all the ingredients for a dystopian revival. It’s based on a beloved book, and its premise – exploring beauty standards in a world where they’ve literally become law – should feel especially relevant today. But instead of a sharp critique, the movie feels like it stopped halfway and was just going through the motions. There are some fun moments, but the stakes never feel as high as they should, and the world-building just doesn’t deliver the tension or depth we expect from dystopia.

If you’re here for nostalgia or just want something light and shiny, give Uglies a go. If you’re hoping for a dystopian flick that makes you rethink everything, this one barely scratches the surface. #FilteredButFlat.

Uglies is currently rated at a 5.0/10 on IMDb and has a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Watch the movie on Netflix here. If you haven’t seen the movie and have questions, check out our Uglies FAQs for more details.

[Hero Image Credit: Netflix]

This story first appeared on Lifestyle Asia Kuala Lumpur