Four years ago, news broke that Netflix planned to release a film adaptation of Uglies, Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 (!) novel about a weird future in which kids are given surgery to become flawlessly beautiful when they turn 16. Naturally—this was early in the 2000s YA dystopia boom!—there is more to this perfection-obsessed situation, and most of it isn’t good. Uglies predates The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner, and many other novels and series that became, to some degree, household names. It always seemed a little weird that it didn’t get a big splashy adaptation, too.
And now it has one—an adaptation, anyway. Big and splashy are not necessarily words that come to mind while watching the first trailer, which spells out far too much about the story. We are no longer in the 2000s, but this trailer unfortunately looks like we are. The effects used to create the Pretties’ drastically “perfect” faces make them look like weird dolls. The special effects overall are unconvincing (though it is fun to finally see these hoverboards on screen). And why is Laverne Cox talking like that?
Uglies has a good story and lot of pointed things to say about appearances and realities, and different ways to live, and freedom. Whether this adaptation can live up to any of that remains to be seen. (Also, using an Animal Collective song here is so random.)
Netflix offers only a very brief synopsis: “In a futuristic world that imposes a cosmetic surgery at 16, Tally is eager for her turn to join the rest of society. But when a friend runs away, Tally embarks on a journey to save her that upends everything she thought she wanted.”
Along with Joey King, who executive produced the film and stars as Tally, Uglies stars Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, and Chase Stokes.
Uglies comes from writer-director McG (The Babysitter, Charlie’s Angels). It has the lightly ominous premiere date of Friday, September 13th.
