# The Ugly Truth

> 2009 film by Robert Luketic

**Wikidata**: [Q922630](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q922630)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_Truth)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-ugly-truth

## Summary
The Ugly Truth is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Luketic. It stars Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler as a romantically mismatched pair who clash over their opposing views on love and relationships.

## Key Facts
- Release date: July 16, 2009 (domestic), October 1, 2009 (international)
- Director: Robert Luketic
- Writers: Nicole Eastman (story), Karen McCullah Lutz, Kirsten Smith (screenplay)
- Main cast: Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Eric Winter, Cheryl Hines, Bonnie Somerville
- Production companies: Lakeshore Entertainment, Relativity Media, Columbia Pictures
- Country of origin: United States
- Genre: Romantic comedy
- Runtime: 96 minutes
- MPAA rating: R (for sexual content and language)
- Box office gross: $205,300,000 worldwide
- IMDb ID: tt1142988
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 14% (critics), 38% (audience)
- Metacritic score: 28/100
- Budget: $38,000,000 (estimated)
- Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
- Sound mix: Dolby Digital
- Color: Color
- Language: English

## FAQs
**What is the plot of The Ugly Truth?**
The film follows Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl), a romantically challenged morning show producer, who is forced to work with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a crude TV personality who offers blunt relationship advice. As they clash over their opposing views on love, they find themselves unexpectedly drawn to each other.

**Who are the main actors in The Ugly Truth?**
The film stars Katherine Heigl as Abby Richter, Gerard Butler as Mike Chadway, Eric Winter as Colin, Cheryl Hines as Georgia, and Bonnie Somerville as Joy. Supporting roles include John Michael Higgins as Larry and Kevin Connolly as Stuart.

**What production companies were involved in making The Ugly Truth?**
The film was produced by Lakeshore Entertainment, Relativity Media, and Columbia Pictures. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures Entertainment).

**How was The Ugly Truth received by critics and audiences?**
The film received largely negative reviews from critics, holding a 14% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 28/100. However, it performed well at the box office, grossing over $205 million worldwide against a $38 million budget.

**What is the significance of the film's title?**
"The Ugly Truth" refers to the blunt, often harsh relationship advice given by Gerard Butler's character, Mike Chadway, who believes that men and women are fundamentally different and that women need to be more direct about what they want in relationships.

## Why It Matters
The Ugly Truth represents a notable entry in the romantic comedy genre of the late 2000s, exemplifying the trend of pairing established television stars with rising film actors. Despite critical panning, its commercial success demonstrated the enduring appeal of the romantic comedy formula and the drawing power of Katherine Heigl following her success in "Grey's Anatomy" and "Knocked Up." The film's exploration of gender dynamics and relationship expectations, while controversial, sparked discussions about modern dating and communication between men and women. Its box office performance of over $205 million worldwide on a $38 million budget proved that even critically derided romantic comedies could be profitable ventures in the studio system.

## Notable For
- Commercial success despite critical failure, grossing over $205 million worldwide
- Pairing Katherine Heigl (fresh off "Grey's Anatomy" and "Knocked Up") with Gerard Butler (rising action star)
- Controversial portrayal of gender dynamics and relationship advice
- R-rating for a mainstream romantic comedy, unusual for the genre
- Significant box office performance relative to its $38 million budget
- Contribution to the late-2000s romantic comedy trend of pairing TV stars with film actors
- Soundtrack featuring contemporary pop and rock artists
- Filming locations in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California
- Marketing campaign emphasizing the clash between the two lead characters' personalities

## Body

### Production and Development
The Ugly Truth was developed by Lakeshore Entertainment, with Nicole Eastman credited for the original story and Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith writing the screenplay. The project was greenlit with a budget of approximately $38 million, a substantial investment for a romantic comedy at the time. Robert Luketic, known for "Legally Blonde" and "Monster-in-Law," was hired to direct, bringing his experience with female-led comedies to the project.

### Casting and Characters
The film's central pairing of Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler represented a deliberate attempt to blend television and film star power. Heigl, coming off her breakthrough role in "Knocked Up" and her established presence on "Grey's Anatomy," was cast as Abby Richter, the romantically challenged television producer. Butler, who had recently gained fame for action roles in "300" and "P.S. I Love You," was cast against type as Mike Chadway, the crude relationship expert. The supporting cast included Eric Winter as Colin, Abby's love interest, and Cheryl Hines as Georgia, Mike's co-host.

### Filming and Locations
Principal photography took place in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California. The film utilized various locations to represent the television studio where Abby works, Mike's apartment, and the various date locations featured in the plot. The production design emphasized the contrast between Abby's organized, professional world and Mike's more chaotic, masculine environment.

### Release and Distribution
Columbia Pictures handled domestic distribution, while Sony Pictures Releasing managed international distribution. The film premiered on July 16, 2009, in the United States, followed by international releases throughout the fall, with the United Kingdom premiere on October 1, 2009. The marketing campaign focused heavily on the contrast between Heigl's and Butler's characters, emphasizing their opposing views on relationships.

### Critical Reception and Controversy
The film received predominantly negative reviews from critics, who criticized its portrayal of gender dynamics and reliance on crude humor. The Rotten Tomatoes score of 14% and Metacritic score of 28/100 reflected the critical consensus that the film relied too heavily on stereotypes and failed to offer fresh insights into relationships. However, some critics noted that the chemistry between Heigl and Butler provided occasional entertainment value despite the film's shortcomings.

### Box Office Performance
Despite the critical drubbing, The Ugly Truth performed well commercially, grossing $205,300,000 worldwide against its $38 million budget. The domestic gross was approximately $88.9 million, with international markets contributing significantly to the total. This performance demonstrated that audience appeal could sometimes outweigh critical reception in determining a film's financial success.

### Cultural Impact and Legacy
The film's exploration of gender dynamics and relationship advice, while controversial, contributed to ongoing cultural conversations about dating and communication in the late 2000s. The character of Mike Chadway, with his blunt and often offensive relationship advice, became a point of discussion about how men and women communicate their desires and expectations in romantic relationships. While not considered a classic of the genre, the film's commercial success helped maintain the viability of romantic comedies in an era when the genre was beginning to face challenges from changing audience preferences.

### Technical Specifications
The film was shot in color with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, typical for romantic comedies aiming for a cinematic scope. The sound mix utilized Dolby Digital technology, and the runtime of 96 minutes positioned it within the standard range for the genre. The production employed contemporary cinematography techniques to capture both the professional environments of the television studio and the more intimate settings of the characters' personal lives.

### Music and Soundtrack
The soundtrack featured contemporary pop and rock artists, complementing the film's modern setting and romantic themes. The music selection helped establish the tone for various scenes, from the upbeat sequences in the television studio to the more intimate moments between the lead characters.

### Related Entities and Connections
The film's production involved connections to several major entertainment entities. Lakeshore Entertainment, with its history of producing diverse films, brought experience in managing romantic comedies. Relativity Media's involvement connected the project to a company known for both mainstream and genre films. Columbia Pictures' distribution ensured wide theatrical release and marketing support. The film also featured Eric Winter, who was married to actress Roselyn Sánchez at the time, adding a connection to the broader entertainment community.

### Classification and Genre
As a romantic comedy, The Ugly Truth follows the genre's traditional structure of pairing two seemingly incompatible characters who eventually find love despite their differences. The R-rating, unusual for mainstream romantic comedies, allowed for more explicit content and language, distinguishing it from more family-friendly entries in the genre. The film's exploration of gender dynamics and relationship advice positions it within a tradition of romantic comedies that use humor to examine modern dating challenges.

### Digital Presence and Legacy
The film maintains a presence across various digital platforms, with its IMDb page (tt1142988) serving as a central hub for information. The film's performance on streaming platforms and its continued availability through various home media formats have helped maintain its presence in popular culture, even as critical opinion has remained largely negative. The film's exploration of gender dynamics continues to be referenced in discussions about romantic comedies and their portrayal of relationships.

## References

1. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
2. The Movie Database
3. The Ugly Truth. Rotten Tomatoes
4. Freebase Data Dumps
5. [IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142988/releaseinfo)
6. [2009_filmbemutatok_osszes.xls](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/158984/2009_filmbemutatok_osszes.xls)
7. [Source](http://nmhh.hu/dokumentum/158984/2009_filmbemutatok_osszes.xls)
8. Box Office Mojo
9. Kinopoisk
10. Entertainment Identifier Registry
11. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/the-ugly-truth/)
12. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
13. AlloCiné
14. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
15. film distribution certificate
16. [Source](http://portal.mj.gov.br/ClassificacaoIndicativa/jsps/DadosObraForm.do?select_action=&tbobra_codigo=35703)
17. Brazilian Advisory Rating System
18. SoundtrackCollector
19. Bechdel Test Movie List
20. mymovies.it
21. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/FDF7-B147-C29C-C161-0F44-7)
22. Danish Film Database
23. [The Ugly Truth (Film) - TV Tropes](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/TheUglyTruth)
24. TheTVDB
25. Trakt.tv
26. FilmVandaag.nl