Uglies Movie Review

Tally Youngblood (played by Joey King) dreams of only one thing: becoming "Pretty." In her society, everyone undergoes a transformative surgery on their sixteenth birthday, ensuring uniform beauty. Until that day, being "Ugly" makes her feel inferior, and she eagerly counts down the days to her procedure. But her perspective shifts when she meets Shay (Brianne Tju). Shay quickly becomes her closest friend, showing Tally that there's more to life than just waiting for the surgery. Shay introduces Tally to a world beyond their city, a place where beauty isn't tied to acceptance. When Tally is faced with a critical decision, she must leave everything behind and follow Shay, discovering shocking truths about the world she thought she knew.

It's been over a decade since I last picked up Scott Wester feld's Uglies series, a favorite of mine from high school. Though the plot details had faded from memory, I vividly recalled the emotional impact of the first book, especially its heart-wrenching ending. After watching the movie, I revisited a few articles to refresh my memory on the book-to-film differences, and I have to say—I thoroughly enjoyed the adaptation.

Joey King’s portrayal of Tally was captivating. Condensing such an intricate, expansive world into an hour and forty-five minutes was no easy feat, but they pulled it off remarkably well. However, I did have a few gripes, which I’ll touch on below.

Starting with the characters, Shay was by far the standout for me. Brianne Tju absolutely shined in her role, to the point where I found myself waiting for her scenes. While Joey King gave a solid performance, I felt Shay’s character carried a unique spark. On the other hand, I was a bit let down by David (Keith Powers). The movie fell flat when it came to his romance with Tally, which I remember being much more impactful in the book. Their connection in the film lacked the depth and emotional weight I expected, given how much I adored their relationship in the novel. Another character that didn’t quite land for me was Peris (Chase Stokes). His role felt more like a convenient plot mechanism rather than a fully fleshed-out person, which was disappointing.

As for the plot, I think the pacing was a bit uneven. We spent a significant amount of time with Tally in the dorms, which dragged on longer than necessary, while The Smoke —the place she’s supposed to fall in love with—was barely explored. It felt rushed, like they ran out of time and crammed her emotional journey into just a few moments. I needed more from that setting to believe in Tally’s transformation and her attachment to the place.

Despite these issues, I genuinely enjoyed the movie. It’s an entertaining and thought-provoking adaptation with a solid foundation. Though I wish I could offer a more detailed book-to-movie comparison, it’s been too long since I last read the series. Overall, I’d rate the film 4/5 stars. Now I’m eagerly awaiting news of whether the second book will make its way to the screen!