'Ugly Dolls' movie review: Life is imperfect but that's ok in animated musical starring Nick Jonas, Kelly Clarkson and Pitbull
UglyDolls is a second-rate Toy Story that’s endearing but boring
Featuring the voices of Nick Jonas, Pitbull, and Kelly Clarkson, UglyDolls is a second-rate Toy Story that’s endearing but boring.
Misfit toy Moxy enjoys life in the weird and wacky town of Uglyville, where residents sing about how life couldn’t get better. Moxy dreams of being a child’s toy, and decides to leave Uglyville in search of a human, taking her friends along for the ride.
Their quest leads them to the Institute of Perfection, which is just as pretentious as it sounds. There, the Uglies discover their origins and eventually learn to love their weirdness.
With its message of self-acceptance, this film has its heart in the right place. But it is at the expense of the characters, who exist solely to push this agenda. Lou, the head of the institute, is a typical self-obsessed villain, while Moxy is a standard underdog without much of a personality.
Despite the predictable storyline, there are a few twists that make things slightly more interesting. The dialogue isn’t bad either, but the best quips mostly come from background characters. Unfortunately, the musical talents of Clarkson and co are wasted, as the songs are repetitive and forgettable.
UglyDolls’ tale of self-love is a cute message for younger viewers, but it is one that can only entertain for so long.