Crass chemistry

Rating: 6/10 (27 May 2013)

Romantic comedies sometimes need so little to be somewhat successful. Here the key to success comes from the abundant chemistry between Katherine Heigl and Sam Butler, with an especially hardy performance by the latter. Uptight and rigid Abby (Katherine Heigl) works as a producer for a flailing TV morning show in Sacramento. On the verge of being cancelled it is time to experiment with extreme: the uncouth hard-hitting Mike (Gerard Butler), former host of cable programme "The Ugly Truth", the ultimate in-your-face reveal on relationships (churning out advice about men preferring their women to roll around half-naked in jello). Despite obvious distaste for Mike's cynical methods and views, Abby is forced to accept his brash on-screen attitude. Nevertheless, she soon finds herself taking love advice from the burly news host in a ploy to entice the 'perfect man'.
Despite its somewhat misogynistic pretence, fortunately introduced purely for laughs sakes, not to preach about the banality of love, "The Ugly Truth" works surprisingly well. Mostly due to the well-strung pairing with great comedic timing and a underlying tension bringing about colours to the story. Heigl naturally fails straight into her comfort zone of being a stringent obsessing female, but her charm is relentless. Together they form a duo that makes any shortcomings of the mannered and formulaic script fade into the background. Fortunately also several jokes are extremely well handled, even if not particularly ingenious results of brainstorming sessions. Clichés may be especially annoying, but somehow with Heigl and Butler taking centre-stage, it becomes something of an enjoyable guilty pleasure. Not an entirely memorable one, but still above average TV fodder for comedic release.