Joey King in McG's Adaptable YA Adaptation for Netflix

A brave young woman battles a repressive society in a dystopian future, while honing her archery skills. No, it's not The Hunger Gamesbut rather Netflix's latest YA sci-fi film effort, based on Scott Westerfield's bestselling 2005 novel that spawned several sequels. Joey King stars in this McG-directed film adaptation, and while Ugly It won't erase the memory of the aforementioned film franchise, but it proves to be a gripping enough thriller that should appeal to younger audiences.

The hardworking Joey King (the Kissing booth series, The act, We were the lucky ones) plays the central role of Tally, who lives in a futuristic world that mandates cosmetic surgery at age 16 for all its citizens (not such a far-fetched idea these days) who are known as the “Ugly Ones” before being transformed into the “Beautiful Ones.” Not that Tally objects, as she informs us early in the film.

Ugly

The conclusion

I've been there before, I saw it in The Hunger Games.

Release date: Friday, September 13th
Launch: Joey King, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Laverne Cox, Jay DeVon Johnson, Charmin Lee, Jan Luis Castellanos, Zamani Wilder, Joseph Echvarria
Director:May
Screenwriters: Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, Whit Anderson

Rated PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes

“My whole life I wanted to be pretty. I thought it would change everything,” she says. As she approaches her 16th birthday, Tally excitedly compares possible future versions of herself to an AI mirror. In the days leading up to the operation, she spends time practicing standing on a hoverboard (shades of Harry Potter) with her best friend Shay (Brianne Tju).

Tally's excitement about her impending transformation begins to wane when she meets her friend Peris (Chase Stokes, External banks) after receiving the compulsory treatment. He seems wonderful, all right, but he seems to have changed; he is no longer interested in their friendship or his old interests. And then Shay tries to talk her out of the operation and informs her that he is running away to join a rebel society known as “Smoke.”

Not long afterward, the society’s leader, Dr. Cable (Laverne Cox, indulging in viciousness with gusto), orders Tally to go on a secret undercover mission to join the Smoke and become an informant, or risk never becoming a Pretty. She reluctantly agrees and soon heads to the Smoke, which resembles a utopian wilderness commune. There, she reunites with Shay and meets the handsome David (Keith Powers), who takes her under his wing and fuels the film’s chaste, romantic subplot.

It isn't long before Tally realizes that she has been living in a free-thinking society. She returns home and gathers her friends to join her in the fight. “Do you want to be rebels?” she asks. “Today is your day.”

It’s all as familiar as it sounds, but it’s easily swept away by McG’s deft, fast-paced direction, imaginatively sumptuous CGI, and King’s impressive performance. It’s hard not to feel like the material isn’t up to par with her, even though she’s an avowed fan of the source material and serves as one of the film’s executive producers. But she’s such an engaging, likable performer that you can’t help but be invested in her character’s awakening to the idea of ​​having lived in a society where people don’t have control over their own bodies. It’s a theme that feels all too timely in the current political climate.

Full credits

Production: Anonymous Content, Davis Entertainment, Industry Entertainment, Wonderland Pictures, YRF Entertainment
Distributor: Netflix
Cast: Joey King, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Laverne Cox, Jay DeVon Johnson, Charmin Lee, Jan Luis Castellanos, Zamani Wilder, Joseph Echvarria
Director: McG
Screenwriters: Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, Whit Anderson
Producers: John Davis, Jordan Davis, Robyn Meisinger, McG, Mary Viola
Executive Producers: Joey King, Jamie King, Scott Westerfeld, John Fox, Jenny Hinkey
Director of photography: Xiaolong Liu
Production Designer: John Collins
Editors: Martin Bernfeld, Brad Besser
Composer: Edward Shearmur
Costume Designer: Cristina Araujo
Casting: Rich Delia

Rated PG-13, 1 hour 40 minutes

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