THE UGLY TRUTH
US, 2009, 96 minutes, Colour.
Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Bree Turner, Eric Winter, Cheryl Hines, John Michael Higgins.
Directed by Robert Luketic.
The plotline follows all the developments you might expect in a romantic, 21st century screwball, battle of the sexes comedy. What you might not expect (and here the title is sometimes accurate in using the word 'ugly') is the sometimes low tone that the main characters adopt.
Actually, it is to be expected from Mike (Gerard Butler giving up his Scots accent which he used as Leonidas in 300), a television personality who is never inhibited in saying what he thinks and feels especially concerning men and women and their sexual attitudes and behaviour in a program called The Ugly Truth. Stubbled and outrageously macho – and not bothered by offending anyone – we know that he is going to have to learn to be more sensitive, acknowledging a bit more Venus than Mars.
It is not to be expected from Abby (Katherine Heigl who has good timing for comedy as we saw in Knocked Up) who is a 'control freak' TV producer who takes an instant loathing to Mike – and we know that she is going to have to let her hair down (well, actually, attach some hair pieces) – and become more spontaneous.
There are some funny moments, some rather crass moments, and a variation on the differences between image and reality and falling in love.
1.The popularity of traditional romantic comedies? This film in the tradition – but 21st century style and content? A screwball comedy 21st century style? The battle of the sexes – and sexuality?
2.The perspective of the screenwriters, women, the jokes? The insights into behaviour?
3.The Sacramento setting, a smaller city? The studios, apartments, restaurants? The ordinary world and the media? The interlude in Los Angeles, the hotel? The finale, the balloons? The blend of realism and romantic comedy conventions? The musical score?
4.The perspective on Abby: her having everything, but being a controller, lacking confidence, her list and expectations of men, not being able to be spontaneous, critical, yet wanting to have a relationship? The ideal man? The change, Mike and his altering her appearance, the lessons and coaching? Some understanding of men? The relationship with Colin? Her learning not to control – be less critical? Attentive, spontaneous? Not sexually repressed? The effect of the encounter with Mike on her?
5.The masculine perspective on Mike: rough, stubbled, crass, his expressions, exploitative, blunt, sexuality, women’s appearances? The need to change to sensitive, mellow, loving?
6.The title, Mike’s program? Mike’s performance, outrageous attitudes, the insults? Yet shrewd about people? With Abby on the phone, insulting her? Meeting her the next day? Transferring stations, his performance, with Larry and Georgia, with the ape…?
7.The world of television, the various channels, competitiveness? Cable channels, small? The hopes, the ratings? The morning show? The local hosts, the cooking sequences? The sequence of cooking duck on screen? The executives, wanting Mike, issues of poaching? The bigger networks wanting talent for national television? Hiring and firing?
8.Abby, her age, appearance, home, way of life, relationship with the staff, wanting solutions rather than problems? Blowing the whistle for disputes? The threats, her boss, the ratings? Mike and her talking to him on the phone, her anger at his behaviour and talk? The ideal man? At home with the cat? Going up the tree to get the cat, the doctor coming across, his towel, the attraction? Mike challenging her, her being upset? His advice, clothes, going shopping, how to flirt, the hairpieces, going to the baseball, her making the mess, the television screen and her embarrassment? Going home, success, dancing? The pants and the vibrator? The scene in the restaurant? Mike letting it go on? The executives' reaction, Colin? The plan for Lake Tahoe, Mike and his new job, Abby going to Los Angeles? Mike and the show, his sister, his nephew and giving him good advice? At the hotel, teaching Abby to dance, the kiss in the elevator? Colin’s arrival, Mike’s disappearance, Abby telling the truth to Colin about her controlling nature? Her being upset that Mike disappeared? Back to Sacramento, the auditions for the new host of The Ugly Truth, the gross candidates and their performance, in the balloon, Abby taking over, Mike seeing her at the other camera, the confrontation, the microphone, on screen in the balloon? Falling in love?
9.Mike, bravado, appearance? Larry and Georgia and their own bickering, listening to Mike’s advice, their marriage? The girls in the Jello? Confronting Abby? The human side of him? Falling in love with Abby?
10.Abby’s assistant, her eagerness, observing Mike? Excitement with Colin?
11.Abby, the initial interview with Rick, the meal, the list of questions?
12.The boss, the ratings, the executives?
13.Larry and Georgia, husband and wife, the comedy touches?
14.Colin, the cat, being a doctor, the phone calls, Mike making Abby hang up, his waiting, returning the calls? The baseball outing and his embarrassment? Going to the dinner with the executives? The vibrator? Going to Los Angeles, in love with Abby – but not knowing the real Abby?
15.A frank comedy, the truth about men and women and their relationships or not? Any insights?
