Definitely Better Than a Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick

Rating: 1/10 (11 August 2009)

"The Ugly Truth" is a definitely better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. It stars two lovely, charming actors: Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl. Other than that, there is nothing good to say about this movie. It really, really stinks. The critics got this right.
First, memo to Gerard Butler. You were gorgeous in "Phantom of the Opera." You were buff in "300." In "The Ugly Truth," you are fat, and fat does not work on you, darling. Some actors can carry it off – where would James Gandolfini be without those extra 200 pounds he carries around. On you, Gerry, the fat just does not work. It settles on your face, and you look puffy and too much like Ernest Borgnine to star in any romance outside of a remake of "Marty." The rest of the movie is simply not worth talking about. It is vulgar, trashy, and badly made. I was astounded by the poor quality of the film stock. It's as if you are watching "The Ugly Truth" through rancid fish aquarium water. The direction isn't up to high school drama class standards, and the lines fall flatter than Kansas.
All of this is a crying shame, because the premise is promising and the actors are game. We could really use a good romantic comedy right about now. The script, direction, and production values just, simply, stink.