UglyDolls Blu-ray Review – Different is Far From Ugly

By: Lynn Barker

Malformed rejects from a toy factory live In Uglyville and are mostly a happy group of UglyDolls. Only perfect dolls get to live with loving kids. Moxy (voice of Kelly Clarkson), a pink, fuzzy and fun UglyDoll thinks there is a Big World beyond Uglyville where kids will love her and the others despite what mayor Ox (Blake Shelton) says.

Uglyville in happy timesCourtesy of STXfilms

After making her way out of the city with friends shy village thinker Lucky Bat (Wang Leehom), easy-going Ugly Dog (Pitbull), cynical baker Wage (Wanda Sykes), and over-sized, soft-spoken Babo (Gabriel Iglesias), Moxy comes upon The Institute of Perfection. Will this discovery ever lead to a loving child for all UglyDolls or prove that they’ll never be wanted?  

UglyDolls Trailer

Exit From Uglyville

In coastal Uglyville, malformed dolls celebrate their unique forms and are happy but little pink Moxy is sure there is more in the Big World outside. There is a child out there to love all dolls. Despite naysayers, she and a few friends go through a tunnel and slide into the Big World at the Institute of Perfection where perfect dolls train until they are ready to be matched with a kid. After being rejected by machinery as “different” they are brought before perfect-looking doll Lou (Nick Jonas) the head of the institute who tells them they must pass The Gauntlet if they ever want to belong to a child. Of course they are so ugly, even this probably won’t work.

Nick Jonas is LouCourtesy of STXfilms

Uglyville Must Die!

Lou keeps the UglyDolls nearby while he figures out how to destroy Uglyville. No more rejects should escape. One semi-perfect (she secretly wears glasses) doll named Mandy (Janelle Monáe) feels a kinship with the Uglies and befriends them secretly. Lou sends three girl doll spies Tuesday (Bebe Rexha), Kitty (Charli XCX), and Lydia (Lizzo), into Uglyville to kidnap mayor Ox who used to live in the Big World as Lou’s pal until he was banished. Ox created Uglyville where flawed dolls like him could live in peace and joy. He opted to keep the outside world a secret from his fellow UglyDolls.

The SpyGirlsCourtesy of STXfilms

“Perfect” Training

The Uglies go through “perfect” training but manage to always to get dirty. As punishment they are all thrown into a washing machine, time and again. Once Ox’s story is revealed, Moxy is demoralized and she and her friends return, defeated to Uglyville. Hearing the news, all dolls in Uglyville become depressed. Mandy visits Moxy and convinces her that she has to ignore Lou and the other “pretty” dolls. She needs to return to the institute and go through The Gauntlet but Moxy and Mandy are grabbed by the Spy Girls before Moxy can do so. Lou puts them into a death-trap recycling bin that will ground them to bits! They are rescued by Moxy’s pals.

Ox has a secretCourtesy of STXfilms

The Ultimate Test

Uglies decide to stay and go through the Gauntlet after all. Lou, to prove his worth and retain his high position, goes with them. The ultimate test includes recreations of real-life threats dolls have to face once they belong to a child; destructive babies, vacuum cleaners, attacking dogs and more. Can Moxy and the group make it through? Can Moxy forgive Ox for keeping the secret of the outside world from the Uglies? Can Uglies and perfect dolls live together in peace and friendship? Will the Uglies ever belong to kids who love them?

Will Lou win the day?Courtesy of STXfilms

Special Extra Features

• Making UglyDolls- A brief, 5-part look at each voice actor and his or her character. Cute but more of a “selling” promo.
• Fun with the Cast of UglyDolls – is a multi-part featurette with the voice actors playing “Would You Rather”, revealing their hidden talents, checking out toys from the movie, reacting to seeing the first trailer and drawing their characters (Janelle Monáe’s is the best drawing). Again, brief and really just little promotional features.
• Sing-Along Tease sets you up for the Sing-Along version of the film with lyrics on screen to follow.

UglyDolls Exclusive Clip - "Sing Along"

Wrapping Up

We received the “Sing-Along” edition of the movie but there is the choice of watching the “regular” version on the disc as well. The songs are cute and catchy so the Sing-Along offering seems the best pick.

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Courtesy of STXfilms

Extras are a bit disappointing as they are all just very short, promotional videos to sell the movie. There are no comments by filmmakers or extras on developing the characters, the story etc.  However, if you are into any of the singer/voice actors, they do appear throughout.

Moxy in UglyvilleCourtesy of STXfilms

UglyDolls has a great message. Individuality beats conformity. What makes you different makes you unique so let your freak flag fly! You feel uplifted after watching and a once-through on the extras is entertaining enough. We award three stars.

UglyDolls Blu-ray Rating: 

Courtesy of STXfilms

UglyDolls is available to take home July 30^th

Do You Let Your Freak Flag Fly?

If you ever had a less-than-perfect, well-worn and loved toy, you can get into UglyDolls.   Do you and BFFs let your freak flags fly? Will you collect and/or gift this Blu-ray set? Let everyone know with comments below or on your Kidzworld profile page.