Uglies, released on Netflix in 2024 and directed by McG, is a sci-fi film adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 bestselling novel Uglies. The movie portrays a dystopian world where physical prettiness is mandatory and enforced through genetically turning humans into “Pretties” at the age of sixteen surgery. In this society, adolescents are referred to as “Uglies” and are quarantined in dorms until they ‘age’ and are transformed into ‘Pretties’. The narrative examines key issues such as individuality, oppression, and insurrection, serving as a warning against the dangers of societal convergence.
Plot Summary
The film is set in a distant future where society has restructured itself following a global catastrophe. Human civilization now exists in enclosed, highly controlled city-states. In this world, individuality is suppressed under the guise of harmony. At the core of this oppression is the standard of beauty: every individual is required to undergo mandatory extensive surgery at the age of sixteen to be deemed a “Pretty.” They claim this change will remove jealousy, violence, and social disparity.
The main character, Tally Youngblood, is a teen who is counting down the days until her sixteenth birthday. Her boyfriend Peris resides in the city’s Junior section for transitioned teenagers called Pretties. He underwent his transformation early and now lives in the city’s luxurious section. However, to Tally’s dismay, Peris’s transformation changed his personality to be bland and emotionally absent. This puzzles Tally as she remembers him as warm and caring.
Not long after this, Tally encounters Shay, an Ugly with more of a rebellious flare. Shay has no plans to accept the compulsory surgery and talks about relocating to a secret settlement known as The Smoke, where people do not undergo the procedures and live freely. Shay offers to bring Tally, but she declines out of concerns that she will miss out on her surgery.
When Shay goes missing, Tally is approached by an organization known as Special Circumstances. She is then imprisoned and coerced into capturing Shay and breaching the settlement known as The Smoke. Although she is cornered, she undergoes conflicting feelings when she uncovers the truth behind the Sugery: it is not only physical. The procedure includes administering brain lesions meant to reduce critical thinking, rendering the individual more subservient.
In “The Smoke,” Tally encounters David, one of Shay’s friends who is also a rebel leader. He instructs her on the natural ways of life, critical thinking, and the deception wrapped in societal “perfection.” Tally slowly comes to appreciate David and deepens her understanding of the societal loss in her world.
Out of guilt and both emotional and social loyalty, Tally makes the decision to destroy the tracking device which culminates as a signal for the authorities to raid the location. With the community captured, Tally witnesses Shay undergoing a forced ‘Pretty’ transformation. Tally is full of remorse and after returning to the city, decides to undergo voluntary surgery—this time to tellingly expose the lies and unfurl her society piece by piece.
Main Characters and Their Roles
As Tally Youngblood, Joey King: Tally undergoes a transformation that requires one to be a devoted follower of the system to a cast out rebellious figure who opposes it. King gives a solid performance which showcases her dynamic emotion in a character who has to juggle desiring freedom but also a conscience weighing down the cost.
Chase Stokes as Peris: He embodies a character who midway undergoes a transformation with peri. Stokes plays both versions—before the surgery and after which he does with subtle differences to show personality erosion.
Brianne Tju as Shay: As a member of the supporting cast, Tju as Shay stands out as bold and headstrong. Her relationship with King sustains much of the film’s emotional conflict.
Keith Powers as David: Powers to the role delivers a passionate and grounded performance. However, the film’s swift pacing leaves his romantic storyline with Tally feeling underdeveloped.
Laverne Cox and other cast members in supporting roles portray authority figures and mentors embody the systemic forces Tally has to fight against.
Themes and Symbolism
Conformity vs. Individuality
The primary struggle of the film centers on enforced conformity disguised as equality. The transformation process turns individuals into physically beautiful beings devoid of critical thinking skills and sentiment. The system thrives on the suppression of personality and independence.
Beauty as Control
The film criticizes society’s obsession with beauty by pushing it to an extreme. What occurs when beauty is required? Society’s forced enforcement of uniformity under the deceptive pretext of tranquility marks the onset of an inevitable decline in diversity and free will.
Free Will and Reberllion
Tally’s journey is reclaiming agency, which was once centered on acceptance. She evolves into someone who actively rebels against the very institution that she idolized. The Smoke represents the concept of rebellion as well as the enduring defiance of the human spirit against authoritarian domination.
Modern Relevance
The book was published before the advent of social media, but the film’s focus on identity resonates with contemporary issues such as identity filters, plastic surgery, and the digital alteration of faces. It illustrates the dangers of self-objectification that accompany seeking social approval.
Cinematic Style and Direction
McG’s directorial work on the film gave it a sleek, polished, and captivating appearance. Contrasting The Smoke and wilderness with “Pretty” Tally’s world as vibrant, symmetrical, and artificially perfect supports the narrative conflict of the story’s synthetic versus authentic freedom.
Critics argue the pacing of the film is too brisk. Some viewers commented on the rapid pace of key character arcs like Tally’s emotional changes and her relationship with David. The film prioritizes action and visual appeal over the deeper philosophical and emotional themes within the original work.
Reception
Uglies garnered a spectrum of responses. Reviews of the movie underscored its poor execution. The visuals were described as stylistically engaging, yet the story lacked thematic depth. While the story’s premise is captivating, it also requires an additional level of nuance in its execution. Character development was shallow, and many of the book’s more profound ethical dilemmas were bypassed.
There was a notable difference between audience and critics. Audiences were more tolerant, celebrating the film as an entertaining dystopian romp. Book fans were divided. Some were thrilled watching the world they read about come alive, while others rebelled in disappointment over the changes and omissions made from the source material.
Conclusion
With strong visuals, Uglies (2024) adapts a beloved young adult dystopian novel, presenting it to a new generation while retaining its core message. The film’s central warning regarding the enforced ideals of beauty and individuality remains poignant, despite not being fully explored.
For those interested in stories that contend with society’s constructs, especially identity and existence framed within a futuristic context, Uglies presents a compelling, albeit imperfect, cinematic offering. While the film derives its emotion and intellect from the shamefully heavy anchor that is its source material, it still raises essential discussions surrounding conformity, agency, and the societal question— what does it mean to be “pretty”?
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