As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the dystopian futurescapes of the 2010s, I must say that Netflix’s foray into the genre with Uglies leaves me feeling a tad underwhelmed – like a well-aged wine served alongside a fast-food burger.
At the peak of the 2010s, dystopian future films were extremely popular. Films like “The Hunger Games”, “Divergent”, and “The Maze Runner” became some of the most successful franchises that thrived on this theme, but eventually, the enthusiasm for them began to fade. However, Netflix’s original film, “Uglies”, seems to be attempting to rekindle that spark. Does the movie manage to breathe new life into this genre?
In “Uglies,” Joey King takes the lead role as Tally Youngblood, a teenager about to undergo a transformative surgery that will make her ‘pretty’ according to the movie’s standards. The plot revolves around a society where everyone turns sixteen and gets an operation that alters their appearance to fit the film’s definition of beauty. In this world, everyone is considered equally attractive to eliminate class distinctions and prevent discrimination. The story unfolds in a universe where the ‘Uglies’ learn to live harmoniously despite their physical differences.
However, of course, this surgery has a plot twist that very few know about, which is that once the person has undergone it, the part of their brain that allows them to want to be an individual is basically transformed to make them just another random droid among all the people who can no longer think for themselves. It is basically a nightmare dressed up in fairy lights. In the nature of young adult dystopian franchises, the corrupt government always holds a terrifying secret, so the reveal of this one is not the shock it wants to be.
In comparison to popular franchises like “The Hunger Games,” “Uglies” may seem to have a relatively simple narrative structure. The Hunger Games series captivates audiences through its exploration of themes such as media manipulation, children forced to fight to the death, the struggle of the Districts against the oppressive Capitol, and the ongoing power struggles stemming from corrupt leaders.
Joey King and Brianne Tju, who play the roles of Tally’s rebellious friend Shay, are the essence of Uglies, as Shay strives to demonstrate that people can live authentically without altering their physical looks. The bond between them forms the backbone of the narrative, outweighing Tally’s emotional ties to her childhood companion Peris or possible romantic interest David.
While Joey King and Brianna Tju undoubtedly give captivating portrayals as Tally and Shay in the film adaptation of Uglies, their performances may not be sufficient on their own to make this movie the defining representation of dystopian future cinema.
The storyline, in its entirety, seems rather shallow, and despite Netflix’s efforts to delve into the intricate world-building of the source material, the film fails to fully capture the essence or the depth of the world or its characters.
In recent movie years, dystopian future films haven’t been prevalent. Consequently, the release of Uglies seems somewhat unusual. Furthermore, the narrative itself lacks sufficient depth to warrant its existence, particularly given that a significant aspect of its plot revolves around the importance of physical appearance. The storyline’s execution seems to overemphasize explaining to the audience that physical appearance is insignificant.
Instead of being made into a movie or film series, the story of “Uglies” might have been better suited for a dystopian television series. Such series seem to have proven more effective at creating immersive worlds and portraying the hardships associated with these narrative arcs, like “The 100,” “Snowpiercer,” or “Silo.
The movie Uglies concludes ambiguously, implying a possible sequel to further develop or resolve the narrative. Nonetheless, even though it may be beneficial for character development, this series doesn’t seem like a blockbuster franchise that would captivate audiences in theaters.
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2024-09-17 17:15