"Now we know it's not as big as you say it is, don't we Gerry?"

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter, Cheryl Hines
Director: Robert Luketic
Screenwriters: Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith
Rating: 15

Predictable? Yes. Cheesy ending? Yes. Would we girls have it any other way? Hell no. The Ugly Truth ticks all the boxes for a classic romcom, without veering too far from it’s ever predicable and feel good path.

TV News producer Abby, played by girl-next-door Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up, Grey’s Anatomy) is a desperately single control freak trying to find the perfect man. One night home alone with her cat she sees Mike, played by the melt-in-your-mouth gorgeous Gerard Butler (P.S. I Love You, 300), on TV arrogantly discounting all of her romantic beliefs. Enraged, uptight Abby calls Mike live on air to have her say and so begins a fiery friendship that can only lead to one thing.

This is a battle of the sexes tale with one side caving in and accepting defeat fairly early on, as Abby allows Mike to teach her how to bag the man of her dreams by instructing her on what to do, wear, say and fake. Mike is comically crude from the word go – talking about flicking the bean, blow jobs and just about anything remotely sex related, which is admittedly refreshing in a Chick Flick.

The Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus theme runs throughout with clueless Abby having to re-evaluate her dating techniques while Mike plays a real man, in all his ugly truth, as we (in the real world) know men to be. Butler is a little wooden at times, but compared to his terrible romcom debut in P.S. I Love You, he is marginally better. It is, however, impossible to miss just how incredibly gorgeous he is and many things, like acting and bad accents, can be forgiven for a man with his roguish good looks. 27 Dresses was a disappointing follow up to Knocked Up for Heigl, but her character in The Ugly Truth seems to be the perfect compromise between the two for her to showcase her comical abilities.

As Mike helps Abby trick her dreamy doctor next door neighbour, Colin (Eric Winter), to fall for her, we are faced with a frustrating and unlikely love triangle. Colin is about as interesting as a wet lettuce and resembles a fairy-tale prince charming in looks, making him unrealistic competition for Abby’s other love rival. Meanwhile, Abby, who has been trying to tick all the boxes for her perfect man (while changing herself in to man’s perfect woman) soon releases that Mr. Perfect has been there all along. As if we didn’t know that one already!

Heigl and Butler’s chemistry is great throughout but is heightened by Butler’s dopey eyed lingering looks when he begins to realise the lady he is really lusting after. Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and John Michael Higgins play humorous supporting roles as a privately unhappy TV couple (think Richard and Judy) who are also enlightened by Mike’s ugly truth advice, helping them to unleash the fiery passion within them.

When the moment that you have been waiting for throughout the entire film finally arrives it feels a little rushed, contrived and disappointing. But who cares. The Ugly Truth is a definite feel good film to watch again and again, with the added bonus of handy tips on how to get a man to save you from cat woman spinsterhood. It is everything you want and expect a romcom to be while catering for those all those girls out there who like a bit of crude comedy. Not forgetting Gerard Butler. Did we mention Gerard Butler?

The Ugly Truth is in cinemas now

By Laura Corns