The Ugly Truth

Ugly is the perfect way to describe the unoriginal, predictable romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth." With a script packed with dry humor and dull, safe direction, this film is painful to watch. However, what was the most surprising in this film's downfall was its cast. Usually funny, Katherine Heigl did not light up the screen in this film. She fumbles through many lines that could have been delivered in a more witty, clever way. While Butler was not too far behind Heigl's disastrous act, he managed to pick up the pace and humor from time to time.

Directed by Robert Luketic, "The Ugly Truth" tells the story of Abby Richter, a morning show producer. For a long time now, Abby has failed at any attempt in keeping a stable relationship and is tired of being single. However, when her boss teams her up with the chauvinistic Mike Chadway, Abby's luck begins to change. Well, not at first, of course. Initially, the two bicker and want nothing to do with one another. However, eventually Mike chooses to use his male theories on love and relationships to help Abby find her true love. His tricks and schemes have an unforeseen effect.

The film stars Katherine Heigl as Abby, Gerard Butler as Mike, Bree Truner as Joy, Eric Winter as Colin, Nick Searcy as Stuart, Jesse D. Goins as Cliff and Cheryl Hines as Georgia. Also featured throughout the film are John Michael Higgins, Noah Matthews, Bonnie Somerville and John Sloman.

Writers Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith have created a contrived script that tries too hard. The jokes, while not funny, are also so cliche that anyone could have written it. It took no wit or charm to create this screenplay.

There is also almost no risk in the direction, making every scene predictable and boring.

So with dry dialogue, uninspired direction, and not to mention taking a great cast and subjecting them to a film like this, "The Ugly Truth" follows everything a bad rom-com would do.