Seriously speaking, every­thing that should entertain kids, remain within the expected limits suitable for their age and send the right messages, has been done and over with. No wonder, most movies seem like a restyled version of something else we have seen before, or a sequel or prequel to a famous movie that the filmmakers are trying to cash in on.

UglyDolls is a movie about toys, (officially based on a popular range of US cuddly toys) and we have already had the Toy Story series to entertain us. So what’s so special about this one that it had to be made?

Well, I found the message of UglyDolls very special and important for children to learn — being perfect is not everything, the imperfection in all of us is what makes us special in our own way and we should embrace our uniqueness.

Uglyville is a different kind of town where all plush toys that are imperfect are tossed off as they are considered too ugly to be sent into the real world and be owned by a child. The toys here don’t mind their imperfection as they live here happily, leading a merry life with little care about being discards or the world outside.

This is until the gutsy Moxy (voiced by Kelly Clarkson) wants a child to own her and decides to do something no one had ever tried. She and a bunch of other imperfect, but happy-go-lucky friends, follow her into the pipeline from where they get thrown into Uglyville and make their escape.

They find themselves in the Institute of Perfection — a training academy for dolls where they get ready to enter the real world and go into kids’ homes. The place is run by the cruel Lou (Nick Jonas) who is considered the epitome of perfection and who is horrified to find a bunch of imperfect toys having dared to step into his perfect world. But considering it a chance to demean Moxy and Co., he offers them some challenges to prove themselves fit for being among his kind.

The visuals are very colourful and the imperfections of the toys are very in-your-face, but cute. This clearly sends the message of each one being an individual with a personality and qualities that make them just fine as they are. This is so very important in an age where social media is trying to show us only the best side and beauty in people and places, as if ugliness and imperfection doesn’t exist. This theme alone makes up for the many flaws or deja vu moments we encounter.

UglyDolls is not one of the best children’s movies that has come out this year, but it still is a watchable one for children 12 years and younger. It is rated PG for thematic elements and brief action.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 19th, 2019