Something for guys to look at... but nothing more

Rating: 2/10 (9 September 2000)

Babelicious dancing girls and wicked cocktails aside, this is perfectly harmless fun that manages to subtly entertain while looking deceptively stylish. "Flashdance" it's not, though it tries its damnest to copy Adrian Lyne's signature flamboyant style. The story is way too familiar - small town girl goes to the big, dirty city to sell her soul, I mean songs.
In the case of Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo), one too many rejections land her way in over her head in a gofor-broke party bar with the unlikely moniker of Coyote Ugly. Big bucks to be had, but you've got to earn them the hard way. Tossing bottles of Jack with the finesse of a swaggering Tom Cruise (remember "Cocktail"?), brazenly shakin' your groove thing (that pesky "Flashdance" again), and maybe even belting out a song or two ("Little Voice" anyone?). Violet, affectionately renamed Jersey, catches on to the after-hours ropes, but doesn't let go of her dream. Oh, you've heard this one before?
Not a whit of imagination, but every predictable moment is drenched with an emotion closely resembling heart. Violet tackles the bright lights of the big city and the love of her man (hunky Adam Garcia) with let's-put-on-a-show gusto that's endearing in its struggle to seem genuine. With her big-hearted Dad (John Goodman) to show her the way, there is no mountain high enough to keep Violet from making her show-biz fantasies come true.
I poke fun, but the truth is the package works like a big old fun house mirror. Images are not always what they seem. Coyote Ugly is one bog party, where zany girls light the bar on fire (literally) and burn the floor with some frisky moves. When the action is elsewhere in the sprawling jungle of New York City, it looks gritty in an artsy, artificially lit way. The plot twists and turns can be seen coming from a mile off, but much is forgiven when the costumes are tantalizing and the dreams burns bright. Excellent psychological approach...
Perabo, the month's "It" girl, works her story with effort. Her chemistry with just about everybody - from the bitchy bar dancers to her best buddy from home - is vintage good girl clicks with the universe. Bar dances are a disappointing, quick-cutting mishmash of leather-clad thighs, kick-butt boots and bare midriffs. Relentless strings of pop tunes wear thin early on. A mixed bag, but one that's chock full of delicious eye candy.