What's True About The Ugly Truth?

by: Christian Duran



It’s been a hell of a month for me. Things were not going my way and I haven’t had time for myself. I used to be updated when it comes to movies. Watching 2 to 3 movies every weekend on cinemas was my hobby back then. However, for the past two months I’ve become inactive due to personal matters regarding my career. Nonetheless, I’ve found time to watch “The Ugly Truth” just a while ago. I’m lucky that it was still showing on cinemas.


Well, I’m not a movie critic. I’m not an expert on when it comes to cinematography, soundtracks, music, etc.. I know you know what I mean. So, all I can discuss is the core of the movie. The very essence of the story.


Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is the hardworking producer of a struggling morning news show in Sacramento. Abby focuses so much on her work that she doesn’t have much time left for relationships, and what time she does spend dating is often undermined by her general uptightness. Enter Mike Chadway, the host of a small public access TV show called “The Ugly Truth,” which operates on the thesis that all men want only one thing, and that women should lower their standards and settle for that. The station manager has hired Mike to be a new correspondent on the show, much to Abby’s dismay. Abby tries to get rid of Mike, but he proves to be popular. Things take a turn when Mike offers Abby some advice regarding a neighbor she’s been eyeing.


Mike Chadway did not convince me with his philosophies. For me, they are just dull ideas and theories. I totally disagree with him. I do not agree that men are that shallow as what he was trying to tell and that what men truly want is sex. Oh, come on.. The very idea that all the interactions between men and women can indeed be reduced to a simplistic formula is ridiculous. Saying that all men want only one thing, and that women should lower their standards and settle for that is trash.


I don’t understand why on earth was Abby Richter following Mike’s advices. Yes, I know, they had a deal and initially Abby wanted Mike to be out of her show that’s why he agreed with the deal. But my point is, can’t she find another deal which does not concern her relationship with Collin? Yeah.. it’s part of the plot to make the story more romantic but I find it somewhat illogical. If Abby was really a smart ass, educated woman, she would not act like a moronic dependent child like the way she acts while following Mike’s advices, instructions.. etc.


But there were moments that captured me. I like the part where Mike Chadway was questioned by that guy in the late night show about the reason behind his becoming doctor know-it-all when it comes to women and relationship. He didn’t have an immediate response and was mentally blank for a moment. It seemed like his ego was slapped at that particular moment.


I love the part when Mike didn’t know what to say and what to do when he knocked on Abby’s door after their elevator moment. That’s how a typical guy acts-nervous and indecisive when it comes to situations like that. I was quite touched on the part where Mike lost his courage and cannot look at Abby straight in the eyes and express what he truly feels. Despite being Mike Chadway.. the famous Mike Chadway, he opted to choose the other way around.. to become a coward for a moment and just walked away. That’s his true character as I can say. That was the real Mike Chadway.


Mike Chadway is not the man he was trying himself to become. He was a loving brother and uncle.. a fact that was constantly presented by way of showing how concerned he is for his nephew and how he constantly remind him of not following his false and nonsense advices on TV. That's the real Mike Chadway. The fact is, he was just trying to escape from all the heartaches he had experienced prior to becoming famous.


When it comes to Dr. Collin’s part, I see him as a bait. He was the perfect gentleman but since Mike and Abby where the main character of the movie, Dr. Collin should be eliminated. And so, they found a way to get rid of him although it’s hastily made. It was implied though it was not stated that Dr. Collin was just like the guys that mike described.. guys who were just looking for physical intimacy. When Abby asked him about the reasons why he like her, his answers were describing the girl who Abby wanted to pretend that she was and not Abby’s true self. The fact is, he didn’t love Abby but I guess given an extended time of knowing her more will lead to that special feeling. However, it did not flourish because as what I said, this is Mike and Abby’s story. Nonetheless, ladies, I tell you.. like Dr. Collin minus the “go only for physical intimacy” idea do exist. Guys who are loving, caring.. etc. You just have to find them.


Overall, although I don’t agree with some of the ideas that the movie presented, I find the movie quite fun to watch. I like Abby’s transition from a mere moronic follower to someone who realized that she should be loved as being her and not to pretend after all. I also appreciate Mike Chadway’s transition from being the man he wanted to pretend he was on TV to the truthful and sincere guy in the end. He ate his own words. hahaha

The Reality about Mr. Right's "That One Shot"

by: Christian Duran




"One dance, one look, one kiss, that's all we get, Albert. Just... one shot, to make the difference between happily ever after, and oh? he's just some guy I went to some thing with once."
-excerpt from the movie "Hitch"-


This is one of my favorite movie lines because I can totally feel what the character is trying to convey in this statement.

Often than not, the idea that girls are looking for guys who can make them feel special.. guys who can sweep off their feet is quite true. A guy who can make them laugh whenever they are not on the mood.. a guy who can make them feel how a normal day will feel like a special one whenever she's with him.. A guy who gives a sincere kiss on the forehead when saying goodbye after a long day of being together..

I tell you, guys who have these qualities are not just found in movies. They do exist. And in fact, there are several guys like them thriving in Earth.

Saying that, the question will then be.. “Why is it hard for girls to find a guy having these qualities if it is really true that there are plenty of them in this planet?” The answer my friend can be trimmed down in just one word. –“CHANCE”
Of course if a girl doesn’t know the guy, she will never give a damn interest on him. That’s the problem of “Mr. Right” because as much as we try to deny it, the idea that girls does not fall for personality in the first meeting is true. Girls tend to be carried away by “Mr. Pretty face” in the first glance. And often than not, Mr. Right isn’t an eye catcher.


I am not saying that “Mr. Right” is an ugly guy. He could be an average looking dude or even a good looking one but not just your type. But he just doesn’t have the chance to make a girl see that he is the one she has long been looking for. If he could only have one “hi and hello” to start a conversation, it may help him change the story but sad to say, it’s hard to have that one chance.. that one shot.
A good thing in the movie “Hitch” is the fact that Hitch acts like fate in a man’s body. He’s job is to give that chance and to make that chance possible for not just a stupid guy but for a nice guy who badly needs the chance. He is giving the right broom for the right guy.. for “Mr. right”. He’s job is to open the girls’ eyes that Mr. Right is indeed the right guy.

To sum it all up.. “No matter what, no matter when, no matter who... any man has a chance to sweep any woman off her feet; he just needs the right broom.”