Pretty Ugly People (2008)

36? 38? I mean seriously. We've been watching this movie for 40 years. College 'friends' together and share their horrific personalities with each other. Because not speaking to each other for decades only to jump on a plane for a long weekend in the woods is a thing people do. And especially when they lose 300 lbs to rub in your 'friends' faces. And because all of that is the rational act of sane people, gather up these people to 'share your last 4 lbs weight loss. You know, because no one grows and changes in 20 years. We do gain some insight into the former fat girl though. She's still an angry control freak.Anyway it pulls every stereotype off the shelf. Uptight Oreo black guy, street black girl, rich douchebag, gay douchebag, friend zone guy, old guy, hillbilly, and of course Melissa McCarthy in her patented hysterical fat girl with borderline personality disorder. But I tell you it never gets old watching near 40 year olds act like 17 year olds imagining what 30 year olds act like. When do they grow up? 45? 50?

I just finished watching this as a rental (It also was available only on DVD, not even Blu-Ray, which is rare these days, even for a movie that went straight to disk, but then it WAS made in 2008).While I agree with a few of the negative comments made by some who didn't like the film, I also agree with all of the positive comments by those who did, as well. I thought it was a fair amount of fun, if not "laugh-out-loud" funny, and I've always enjoyed Missi Pyle.I think the fact that this was made BEFORE Melissa McCarthy became a big star and BEFORE Octavia won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for "The Help," certainly DIDN'T help make it a more marketable movie for theaters, as all I can find in the way of theater showings is a bunch of film festivals and ONE "limited release" in September 2009, and it doesn't even say WHERE, plus one brief showing in Palm Springs.William Sanderson, of course, has been around, like, FOREVER (my favorite role for him -- probably his most memorable -- was as the puppet maker in "Blade Runner"). But as a character actor, most folks don't know his name.I think this is good enough that were it released AGAIN during a slow period of the movie year (like the fall or winter), it could probably have a decent showing -- especially now that Melissa and Octavia are stars. Jeff

I also stopped watching about 10-20 minutes in. That's a very rare move for me. I consider myself from rural America, and found the "blacks in these parts" bit tiresome. Also, why was the local hillbilly (in Missoula, Montana, a city of at least 60,000... with hundreds of African-Africans living there as well as a university with a large international population) speaking with such an aw-shucks southern accent? Montana is not The South. It just gets under my skin when it seems as though all people outside of the Northeast or California are portrayed speaking in folksy, Appalachian drawls. Apologies for not sitting through it, but... I was a trifle insulted.

Hey everyone, I'm a HUGE fan of authors and directors who do something different!!! Thank God, I just happened to have come across this film at the Sunset Laemmle 5 called "Pretty Ugly People". A play on words, these people are "pretty" on the outside but have "ugly" things about themselves they need to face. I'm a huge fan of an author that can shock your sensibilities and make you laugh, all at the same time. Not only that, but I surprised myself when (not to ruin the movie for you) I burst out into tears during the film's sudden surprising turn. I remember, 12 years ago, when I saw Todd Solondz's movie, "Welcome to the Dollhouse", it was the first time someone made me laugh-out-loud at his shocking dialogue that revealed each character's pathetic existence which was often times layered with an ignorance that made them "ugly". In many of the same ways, "Pretty Ugly People" holds that same hilarity, as it gives voices to some endearing characters as they struggle to find themselves and find their "pretty" selves and the other side ugly. Like my friend, Heather Ulsvick, who I had seen "Welcome to the Dollhouse" with 12-years ago (who was horrified and shocked by the movie), I appreciate the diverse ways of reacting and interpreting the art around us. For me, that's my kind of movie! Pretty Ugly People was a shocking pleasure and I find myself quoting moments of the movie. "Ignorance is bliss. Ignorant men, yield blissful women." In regards to the previous comment mentioned (by someone who only watched the first 10 minutes of the movie), I find it shocking that someone who only watched the introduction to the film could make such a baseless assessment of the film's intention. If your black, white, gay or straight, a virgin or sexually promiscuous, you will will be guaranteed a cleverly crafted dose of stinging dialogue that promises to give us all a tongue lashing that will leave you laughing.... laughing that is if you have the grace to laugh at yourself. Go see this movie!