Gerard Butler, Katherine Heigl, Eric Winter

Abby Richter is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway, a...( read more  read more... ) hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.

Flixster Users

68% liked it

186,367 ratings

Critics

15% liked it

148 critics

R, 1 hr. 36 min.

Directed by: Robert Luketic

Release Date: July 24, 2009

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DVD Release Date: November 10, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (29,911)


  • October 10, 2009
    The Ugly Truth is a entertaining romantic comedy about Abby Richter, a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway, a hardcore TV personality wh...( read more)o promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick. Although I think the movie is a little predictable and with some corny moments, it is also very enjoyable and funny. The cast is formed by Gerard Butler (300) and Katherine Heigl (27 Dresses) in the leading roles. Heigl is like in her previous movies very good, she is made for this type of movies and Butler is a real suprise, he did excellent in his very first romantic comedy. In conclusion, The Ugly Truth is a very enjoyable comedy for men and women.
  • October 5, 2009
    So clichéd. Not as bad as You've Got Mail, but noticeably worse than Down With Love. Bonus points for Gerry.
  • September 17, 2009
    At times outragiously funny and at others its just flat-out boaring. It's cliche and predictable and does not have enough flavour. Butler is very funny and good in the role but should not do much of the romantic comedy thing cause then he's just gonna loose creditability as an ac...( read more)tor and katie Heigel is already there and shes doomend but it made money at the box-office so hteir saved for now
  • September 10, 2009
    I'm not so crazy about these romantic comdies, but I'm actually getting my faith restored with what I've seen lately. This was funny and I actually liked it very much. Katherine Heigl is just a damn natural at these roles, she totally delievers. Gerard Butler was convincing and f...( read more)unny. This is one of those you'll either love it or hate it, my verdict is I really liked it. This has been done plenty of times but it was well done. Give it a try, it was fun.
  • September 9, 2009
    "Now listen up, ladies. If you want a relationship, here's how you get one: it's called a Stairmaster! Get on it! No-one falls in love with your personality at first sight!"


    Hollywood, it would seem, has grown unable to produce a great romantic comedy. With the modern

    ...( read more)studio system predominantly concerned about making money through minimal effort, you'd be hard-pressed to encounter a studio-produced rom-com which doesn't adhere to as many genre clichés as possible. The Ugly Truth is a perfect example of a generic romantic comedy from the Hollywood factory. It's also more or less a lazy rehash of practically every element of 1989's When Harry Met Sally (with similar protagonists, similar sex jokes and an analogous perspective on relationships). But at any rate, the creators of The Ugly Truth (including three female screenwriters - God help us!) had the decency to set it apart from the uninspired rom-coms of recent memory with some material that's funny and a commentary on men & women that's fairly accurate (if a bit hackneyed). Beyond this, however, The Ugly Truth is a cookie-cutter movie, and the cookies are rather stale.


    The female protagonist of this story is ambitious, romantically-challenged TV producer Abby Richter (Heigl). When the ratings slump for Abby's morning show, the station manager hires Mike Chadway (Butler) to increase the show's popularity. Mike is the host of a television program who offers insights into the primal male psyche. Abby detests Mike and his philosophies, but he becomes an instant TV sensation. Meanwhile, Abby takes a liking for her hunky new neighbour Colin (Winter). When she becomes cornered, Abby grudgingly agrees to let Mike help her court Colin and prove his theories on relationships along the way.


    The set-up is painfully familiar - boorish everyman who doesn't believe in deep relationships meets fussy professional woman seeking true love. They initially loathe one another, but opposites attract in the world of romantic comedies. The story, in other words, is nothing unprecedented. The Ugly Truth stays inside the lines; making sure the eternally single girl lives with a cat, and the dream date has the perfect physique. With a trio of women credited with penning the screenplay, one would hope for some smarter feminist positioning. But alas, the film holds true to every hoary moviemaking chestnut; from the best friend who lives vicariously through the heroine to the obligatory music montage which implies the growing bond between guy and gal. The concepts of subtlety and nuance are discarded, as is the very concept of innovation.


    But The Ugly Truth is admittedly hilarious - not consistently so, but there are enough laughter-inducing scenes to keep things from becoming tedious. The scenes that grant Mike the freedom to talk about relationships and sex are frankly hilarious. There's a glut of other comedic set-pieces as well (such as a predictable incident in a restaurant involving vibrating underpants). Since the filmmakers amplify the crudity factor, your enjoyment of The Ugly Truth will depend on your taste in romantic comedies and tolerance for vulgarity. The film is about as review-proof as any teen-oriented blockbuster.


    Another of the film's strengths is the way it pokes holes in the romantic illusions between men and women that should prove fascinating for both genders. The film suggests that while women possess a mental checklist for the perfect man and spend their leisure time reading books about men, men are in fact very basic with their genitals acting as their guiding compass.


    The star of the show is Gerard Butler, who's clearly having fun with his character of Mike Chadway. He's rakish, frank, eccentric and roguishly charming without even trying. Above all, he's an absolute riot and he confidently keeps the film afloat throughout the rough patches. It's a tour de force of a performance. At the other end of the spectrum, Katherine Heigl (who executive produced with her mother) is merely adequate, and seems a tad stale alongside the excellent Butler.
    Cheryl Hines and John Michael Higgins are terrific and under-utilised as the married co-anchors of Abby's news program. Bree Turner has some great moments as Abby's romance-starved assistant, and Eric Winter is as good as possible considering he's playing a cardboard cut-out of a character. Nick Searcy is also noteworthy as the TV station's beleaguered manager.


    It's a common belief that the central characters of a romantic comedy must be likable in order for the movie to work. But in the real world, there are detestable individuals who still manage to find love. It'd be a real achievement if a bunch of filmmakers were able to make a smart, funny rom-com which involved a contemptuous person searching for love. This would be an effective way to shake up the weary formula. The Ugly Truth had the potential to be that particular movie, but it ends up playing it safe; sticking to the tried and true rules of the genre. There's at least some fun to be had with this by-the-numbers romantic comedy though, and the humour (sophomoric as it often is) relieves some of the boredom of this generic love story.

  • November 7, 2009
    well..harus sy akui, setelah the proposal, the ugly truth cukup menghibur sebagai film rom-com tahun ini. penampilan cemerlang dari si cantik katherine heigl yang ciamik serta the tough guy gerard butler bener2 bikin relaks sepanjang film..klise memang, kisah yang disajikan. tp h...( read more)eigl dan butler menyajikan chemistry cukup kuat sebagai pasangan[akhirnya] yang awalnya ribut namun akhirnya sama2 mau[halah..opo iki?!].
    ga mengherankan kalo the ugly truth cukup sukses karena robert luketic, sang sutradara adalah orang dibalik kesuksesan dwilogy legally blonde bareng reese witherspoon.
    overall, penampilan kocak heigl lah yang patut diberikan kredt khusus dalam film ini. meskipun terlihat tipikal dari film 27 dresses, lewat the ugly truth heigl tampaknya mencoba untuk menjadi ratu rom-com yang baru.
    thanks untuk IK udah mau diculik midnight smalem. ^_^
  • November 6, 2009
    Predictable of course but enjoyable. Worth renting but not worth buying.
  • November 6, 2009
    Totalmente predecible y los clichés son desesperantes.
    Lastima, ya que Heigl y Butler tienen una buena química.
  • November 6, 2009
    good movie!
    but, you never know who you might meet?
  • November 5, 2009
    i really wanted to like this (gerard butler is yum!) but something was off for me. and it was soooooo predictable!

Critic Reviews


August 7, 2009
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

In the age of neurotic screen hygiene each film must have an anti-Messiah who takes on the dirt of all. Elsewhere, wit-free dialogue combines with dust-free scenery and foible-free characters. full review

July 24, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

The ugly truth about The Ugly Truth is the fact that -- funny though it is -- it could have been a whole lot funnier. full review

July 24, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Until that final, inevitable kiss, we have to listen to them, and the clatter of their crude, brainless exchanges is unbearable. full review

July 24, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

The film is so predictable that it might as well have been written as a test classroom exercise in RomCom 101. full review

July 24, 2009
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Contrived as a crossover between a female-friendly romantic comedy and a male-targeted, anti-political correctness jab, The Ugly Truth veers between crude and cloying. full review

July 23, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

A blandly raunchy star vehicle that does its stars few favors. full review

July 23, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Toss this ugly crap to the curb, along with the other multiplex garbage, and see a romance that gets it right. I'm talking (500) Days of Summer. full review

July 23, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler are so pleasant in The Ugly Truth that it's a shame to spoil their party. But toil and try as they do, the comedy bogs down in relentless predictability and the puzzl... full review

July 22, 2009
Armond White, The New York Press

This Butler-Heigl mismatch drop-kicks romcom from the RocknRolla sublime to the Apatow depths. full review

View more The Ugly Truth reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • malene08
    October 25, 2009
    I'ts funny, and i enjoy it.
  • annie066
    August 30, 2009
    JUST FUNNY
  • ezeokoli3
    August 15, 2009
    I really like Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler. The acting was very good in this movie, however I think they had far too much information on sex. A little goes along ways. More story line and leave some things to your imagination.
  • Hno0dy
    July 25, 2009
    i didn't see it but i think it's fuuny
  • softbb
    July 21, 2009
    it looks funny and nice i hope i'm gonna see it
  • kileylang
    June 21, 2009
    This looks absolutely funny
  • lizrocks2686
    February 17, 2009
    i cant wait for this to come out, im going to be there opening week for sure!!!!!!!!
    =D

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  • Wh stars in The Ugly truth (2009)?  Answer »
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