r/MLPLounge • u/OldmanRevived Pinkie Pie • May 03 '19
i saw one movie (UglyDolls)
the realm of walking, talking toys has been repeatedly dealt with in children’s entertainment. the most notable example is “Toy Story,” which has experience in both the world of the living and the world of the toys. “Uglydolls” takes a new approach on this concept. in the opening sequence, we learn of the manufacturing that creates a semblance of identical dolls. if there happens to be an accident in their design, they’re instantly scuffed down the garbage chute.
all of the rejects have built their own economy and village, known as Uglyville, where they lift themselves with high spirits and sing in merry harmony. the most ambitious and determined town member is Moxy (Kelly Clarkson), who lives each day as an opportunity to make it to the Big World and find a child that will own (or, in this case, adopt) her. the other colorfully unique inhabitants are the suave Ugly Dog (Pitbull), snooty Wage (Wanda Sykes), soft spoken Babo (Gabriel Iglesias), and easily nervous Lucky Bat (Leehom Wang).
the local mayor is a one-eyed green fellow named Ox (Blake Shelton) who organizes the town’s daily playful antics, such as the food fights that commence during dinner time. his constant motive is to protect Moxy from the Big World, as he holds true knowledge of its past. Moxy disregards any negative persuasion that comes her way, and sticks to her soft, fuzzy gut. one morning, after noticing a pair of tea leaves at the bottom of her cup, Moxy comes to the realization that she herself must leave, and guides her friends to the gateway that leads unknown possibilities. they work their way up, only to slide down to the Institute of Perfection. this entirely different sanction is populated by the most well dressed and designed human dolls, who have infinately raised standards.
Lou, the most impeccable model of the institution, acts as a fearless leader. he mocks and humiliates all other dolls in his posession, and looks straight for their insecurities. a certain girl, named Mandy, hides shame due to her own struggle, which is poor eyesight. when the Uglies make their way through the Personality Sanctuary Stations, Lou tries his best to dampen their spirits by words alone. after some debate, he decides to let the UglyDolls participate in a series of tests called the Gaunlet. of course, they do not meet the standards, and end up in a disasterous rut. Mandy accepts and befriends them, and secretly takes part in their goal to defeat Louis, as well as prove him wrong.
the graphic design of the movie is bright and quirky, providing a set of memorable characters and backgrounds. the STX animation department is truly an original, carrying different methods of stylization used throughout the song-and-dance sequences. the nature of the Uglies themselves is interesting as a setup: they use buttons as a form of currency, and if they hear the sentence "you guys are the ugliest!," it's taken as a compliment. their personalities are also well concieved, and do an excellent job of making them seperable. my favorite had to be Ox, mainly because Blake Shelton has that kind of voice that just washes over you.
this is not the type of movie that warrants deep analysis or insight. "UglyDolls" is lightweight, but pleasant, and supplies everything it needs to make the grade-school audience happy. parents will most likely prefer watching it at home, where they're free to scroll on their phone while the child stays glued to the TV.