Guh!

I know what you are thinking, Internet. «Oh FC, why the hell do you keep watching these bound-to-be craptacular, cookie-cutter romantic comedies?» Because I am an optimist, that's why. Everytime I purchase my movie ticket, I can't help but think «This time, it's gonna be different. This time, I won't feel like eating the seat in front of me out of sheer boredom because THIS ONE is going to think outside the box». At least, that's what I though right before seeing The Ugly Truth. Ha! Ha Ha Ha HA HA HA......oy. Seriously, my patience with this genre is dwindling.

When the morning news show she produces at a local Sacramento TV station is faced with poor ratings, neurotic tight-ass Abby (Katherine Heigl) is forced to put up with a new provocating (and ratings-raising) segment on the show called The Ugly Truth, and its presenter, the rude and crude Mike (Gerard Butler). Sparks flies as these two opposites verbally spar as they try to cohabite in the same working environment and, you guessed it, eventually fall for each other. WHAT ELSE IS NEW???

Once again, my (destroyed) hopes were not unfounded for this romantic comedy. Helmed by Robert Luketic, director of the fresh and entertaining Legally Blonde, this flick stars Heigl, an actress capable of being foxy while simultaneously making a fool of herself, and Butler, whose mix of baby blue eyes and scruffiness fits right into the genre. However, even Heigl and Butler re-enacting the whole dance sequence at the end of Slumdog Millionaire wouldn't be able to save a flick like this one, aka a flick plagued with a poor excuse of a script

Let me get this straight: She's the mother of all control freaks whose idea of the perfect man is basically the hero of a Harlequin romance. He's at the emotional level of a caveman and this close to being slapped with a sexual harassment suit (but wait, he does care very much for his nephew, who shows up conveniently during the movie. Aaaawe). Throughout the story, they both remain the same, yet at the beginning, they can't stand each other and 1h37 min. later, they're completely in love. Riiight! Maybe that would be believable if there was ANY KIND OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, but no. Apparently, all it took was some bad salsa dancing (on a side note, the producer who insisted on putting that scene in the movie should be fired).

(Warning: incoming obvious play on the title). Here's the ugly truth about this movie: there were a few decent comedy bits. Sadly, this is a typical case of all-the-best-parts-are-in-the-trailer. And Gerald Butler might be hot enough for romantic comedies, but watching him in this was almost akward. Let the man get back to his guns, or at least his scottish accent.

By the way, you know you've made it in Hollywood when your 30 second appearance in the movie is worth the «and Kevin Connolly» type of billing. Congrats, E!