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Parents' Guide to

The Ugly Truth

By S. Jhoanna Robledo, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Predictable romcom mixes racy content, sexist messages.

Movie R 2009 101 minutes
The Ugly Truth Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 15+

Based on 19 parent reviews

age 2+

Funny. I loved seeing Gerald Butler in a comedy

I think that children shouldn't be allowed to watch it due to so many references to see put personally as an adult I just laughed all the way through it.

This title has:

Too much sex
age 12+

Meh

There are a few scenes with sex involved but not to much. One of the deleted scenes shows abbys skirt getting ripped off by a car and she just stands there in her underpants. One other scene were she wears vibrating panties and another were her undies are seen

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (19 ):
Kids say (17 ):

Heigl and Butler have enough chemistry to make a semi-scorching couple, but the movie's pluses pretty much end there. Truth is, THE UGLY TRUTH is as predictable as a romantic comedy can get. Yes, the two stars can't stand each other when they first meet. And, yes, they're polar opposites. And of course you have to suspect that they'll still wind up in each other's arms by the film's end. For good measure, there's a dance number thrown in so that they can finally touch each other long enough to realize that they like each other.

And there are other problems beyond the story. Tone, for instance. Granted, one of the protagonists is meant to be piggish, but does the rest of the film have to lard it on, too? In order to reach Judd Apatow-ian brilliance, you have to do more than just pile on the crass (Knocked Up this ain't). Had The Ugly Truth committed to being a simple-but-entertaining escape, it would have fared at least as well, if not better, than Heigl's more teen-friendly 27 Dresses.

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