Uglies director hits back at main criticism of Netflix movie
Uglies spoilers follow.
Uglies director McG has responded to fans' biggest issue with the dystopian film starring Joey King.
An adaptation of the first book in the Uglies series by author Scott Westerfeld, the Netflix movie is set in a future society where 16-year-olds undergo mandated surgeries to become "Pretties", aka the best versions of themselves. Until then, they're known as "Uglies" and are shunned as they're not considered perfect.
McG is well aware his movie features a cast of conventionally attractive people, with King joined by Brianne Tju, Chase Stokes, Keith Powers and Laverne Cox, to name but a few.
Related: Joey King explains why she picked new Netflix movie Uglies
According to the filmmaker, however, having objectively attractive people in Uglies was a way to get the message of the film across in a more powerful manner.
"That's precisely why we did it, is because we're saying it's never enough," he told The Wrap.
While McG said you "can't get more beautiful" than his cast, he added: "We're saying that's not the point. There's always somebody or something there to nitpick.
"I think, if you spoke to some of the most universally regarded beautiful people in the world, they're some of the people with the most intense body dysmorphia," he continued.
"Nobody's immune from this toxicity that's out there of 'It's never enough. You can always have a thinner waist, bigger hips, fuller lips.' Take your pick. You see it out there every day, and this movie is meant to be the antidote to that way of thinking."
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Previously, McG also weighed in on the film's final cliffhanger, explaining the fate of one character was left deliberately ambiguous. (Spoilers ahead if you haven't watched Uglies just yet.)
Protagonist Tally's (King) best friend Peris (Stokes) falls off a roof in the final scenes.
Earlier in the movie, Peris undergoes his surgery, with evil Dr Cable (Cox) offering him the chance to become a "Special", a "Pretty" hunting down escaped "Uglies" thanks to superhuman abilities. Peris' decision drives a wedge in his relationship with Tally, though the finale leaves room for a reconciliation — provided he's still alive.
"I want [viewers to wonder] is he or isn't he alive in there? Is he or isn't he good or bad?" McG told Deadline. "Has Cable won or has his affection for his friend won out in the end? And I love stories that explore those emotions."
Uglies is streaming now on Netflix.
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