Back in 2015, when I was 15, my friends and I would eagerly rush to the theater every few months to catch the latest adaptation of a bestselling young adult novel. Whether it was the dramatic love triangle in The Hunger Games or yet another story about terminally ill teenagers falling in love, that time was special.
John Green had as much influence as Kevin Feige does today. These films used to be huge hits at the box office, but they have faded over time and no longer fit into the modern world of Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and streaming services.
For example, while The Fault in Our Stars earned over $300 million worldwide in 2014, Five Feet Apart made less than a third of that in 2019.
You might wonder why, nearly a decade after the Golden Age of YA adaptations ended, Netflix chose to adapt one of the standout novels from that era—Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies. The book was published in 2005 and led to three sequels.
Even though 20th Century Fox bought the film rights a year after its release, it took almost 20 years for the movie to be made. This film shows how much has changed over two decades. What was once seen as groundbreaking or insightful now feels outdated and out of touch.
What Is ‘Uglies’ About?
Set about a hundred years in the future, Uglies imagines a world where reliance on fossil fuels has led to global disaster. Though a new, renewable fuel source has been found, human nature continues to mess things up. To fix this, everyone undergoes cosmetic surgery on their 16th birthday to go from “Ugly” to “Pretty.”
Once you are Pretty, you live a luxurious life, looking just like everyone else (think of everyone having the same over-edited social media filter on their face). The idea is that changing people’s looks will stop them from being greedy and causing problems. But it’s unclear how enhancing appearances will fix deeper societal issues.
Tally Youngblood, whose last name feels like a nod to 2005, is excited to turn 16 in two months. She lives with other Uglies in dorms, learning to believe in this system led by Dr. Cable (Laverne Cox, who deserves better).
Tally and her best friend Peris (Chase Stokes) watch the Pretties, who enjoy glamorous parties without any worries. Peris is about to get his procedure, but they vow to stay friends even if Peris becomes a Pretty and Tally remains an Ugly. However, once Peris becomes Pretty, he loses interest in staying friends with Tally.
Heartbroken by the end of her friendship (and unspoken feelings), Tally befriends Shay (Brianne Tju). Shay doesn’t get excited about what she’ll look like as a Pretty. She teaches Tally how to hoverboard and questions everything they’ve been taught.
Shay wants to find the legendary David (Keith Powers) and live in the Smoke, a place where people reject the City’s rules and the surgery.
At first, Tally is scared to join her. But when Dr. Cable asks Tally to infiltrate the Smoke and find out about a weapon being developed, Tally must choose between the life planned for her and a bigger adventure.
Netflix’s ‘Uglies’ Is an Eyesore
From the start, the film tries hard to impress us with its world. Tally’s ring shows a hologram screen with new messages, and she can design her future face like a Sims character.
We’re supposed to be amazed by the technology, such as bungee jackets, hoverboards, and cupcakes appearing from thin air. Maybe this seemed advanced in 2005, but in 2024, it feels old and unimpressive. The clam e-reader in It Follows is more intriguing than anything in Uglies.
Tally’s city life looks like a mix between early concept art for Blade Runner and 1950s Las Vegas (and that might be too kind). The heavy use of CGI prevents director McG from creating memorable scenes.
McG is known for the fun action films Charlie’s Angels and its sequel, but here, the chance to amaze us with gravity-defying stunts is lost in a world that feels artificial.
The constant CGI makes the film feel outdated, like an early 2000s video game. The scenes of Tally and Shay flying through the air should be impressive, but they come across as stale and unoriginal in today’s cinema.
‘Uglies’ Has No Deeper Social Commentary
While watching Uglies, especially if you haven’t read the book, you might wonder what the film is trying to say. The title suggests it could address beauty standards, but the film fails to make a meaningful statement on this topic.
It’s hard to take the film’s message seriously when young Hollywood stars, who are far from unattractive, call themselves “Uglies.” For example, Chase Stokes, known from Outer Banks, talks about looking forward to becoming “good-looking,” which seems insincere.
In the film, all the Pretties look like they’ve been altered by a broken Instagram filter. One particularly shocking reveal of a Pretty looks like a badly done AI ad for dating apps. The film might be trying to critique the extreme standards of cosmetic surgery and technology, but it seems more like Netflix cut corners on special effects.
Compared to recent films like The Substance and Barbie, Uglies doesn’t add anything new to the discussion about beauty standards.
It’s a shallow take on society’s divide between those who follow beauty standards and those who reject them. Released after the COVID-19 pandemic, the film might even be seen as a comment on anti-vaccine sentiments, with its portrayal of rebels against government-mandated medicine.
Laverne Cox and Brianne Tju Stand Out in the ‘Uglies’ Cast
Joey King’s performance as Tally feels like a repeat of her role in Kissing Booth, now with hoverboards. Her portrayal lacks the depth needed to stand out among dystopian heroines like Katniss Everdeen, whom the film seems to aim for.
There’s little chemistry between King and Keith Powers, making the villain, played by Laverne Cox, a more compelling character due to her enjoyable performance. Brianne Tju’s role as Shay is a highlight; she brings a sense of genuine vulnerability and a touch of wonder that the film desperately needs.
If Uglies had been adapted during the Golden Age of YA and received a proper budget, it might have succeeded. However, waiting nearly 20 years, not updating the material, and cutting the budget has led to a film that struggles to make an impact. For teens looking for a new YA series, earlier hits like The Hunger Games are a better choice.
In the past, YA adaptations like The Hunger Games were major box-office hits, but films like Netflix’s Uglies reveal how tastes have shifted. Uglies, based on Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 novel, feels outdated and lacks impact. The film attempts to address beauty standards but falls short, with its CGI effects and themes seeming stale in 2024.
Joey King’s portrayal of Tally is unremarkable compared to past dystopian heroines, though Laverne Cox and Brianne Tju offer standout performances. Uglies misses the mark in a post-COVID world and doesn’t offer much new to the YA genre.
Uglies is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S. starting September 13.
