Netflix has been busy this year delivering a variety of new films, including the recent hit “Rebel Ridge” One of the latest is “Uglies,” a dystopian sci-fi film based on a popular young adult novel, with a familiar setting and high-concept premise in the YA genre that created quite a buzz leading up to its release

Joey King stars in this futuristic dystopian film in which enforced standards of beauty shape society I watched “Uglies” when it became available on Netflix, and while the film has some intriguing elements, it failed to stand out from the crowd of other YA adaptations It failed to stand out from the crowd of other YA adaptations That is not to say that the film is terrible

So is it still worth watching? Here is everything you need to know about “Uglies” and what critics are currently saying about it

The movie “Uglies,” available on Netflix, is based on the young adult book by Scott Westerfeld It is set in a dystopian future where society forces people to undergo extreme cosmetic surgery at the age of 16 in order to become “Pretty” The surgery is intended to erase physical flaws and make everyone fit a narrow definition of beauty, but it also comes with hidden consequences, such as controlling an individual's thoughts and behavior

The protagonist, Tally Youngblood (Joey King), is on the verge of transformation, but begins to question the system when her friend Shay (Brian Tijou) decides to run away from becoming “Pretty” Tully is caught between his loyalty to his friend and pressure from the authorities, who threaten to expel him if he does not help track down Shay

“Uglies” brings a futuristic dystopian world to Netflix, but despite its promising setting, the film struggles to carve out its own space, leaving much of its potential unrealized The film centers on enforced standards of beauty and social conformity, but its treatment of these themes often feels too light for the gravity of its subject matter

Most of the unseriousness stems from the acting While sincere, they do not go so far as to add depth to the characters King has her moments to shine as Tully, especially when she struggles with whether she should be “pretty” or accept that her standards are toxic Most of the time, however, I could only picture her playing Elle in “Kissing Booth” (which is not a great idea, given that this is not a romantic comedy) So, to be honest, I had a hard time taking this film seriously because I couldn't care about any particular character

However, I neither liked nor disliked it Aggries still provides a decent level of entertainment and is somewhat watchable It's important message about beauty and self-worth is especially appealing to younger YA fans However, if you are looking for a more immersive and impactful experience, I highly recommend diving into the book instead

“Uglies” currently has a very low Rotten Tomatoes score of 25% (as of September 13), and online reviews already seem to agree with me; TheWrap's William Bibbiani says: “It's about filling a quota, not thinking or not something to be enjoyed And in this case, quality certainly be damned

The Daily Beast's Nick Shager, on the other hand, agreed that it feels like any other YA adaptation: “To say it's a fourth-generation knockoff of the countless similar YA sagas that came before it would be an understatement

Again, I neither like nor dislike the film, so I can take some of the positives: Brian Orndorff of Blu-ray instead commented on the action: “Director McG is trying to start something big with the original story and so he is trying to get the action going and make the explanations easy to understand This is my opinion as well I agree with this, because there is enough tension and stakes in this film to make it entertaining

“Uglies” may not be the most groundbreaking film in the dystopian YA genre, nor does it distinguish itself from similar films like “The Maze Runner” and “Divergent” The treatment of serious themes feels somewhat diluted, and the overall effect is not as strong as one might have hoped

However, it still provides a measure of entertainment, especially for younger YA fans and those looking for a lighter treatment of familiar themes If you are in the mood for a film that combines the dystopian themes common to these popular franchises in a more accessible way, “Uglies” is worth a look

Unenthusiastic Read about the new “Speak No Evil,” a gripping psycho thriller, here, and our guide to the top three movies worth watching in Netflix's Top 10

Stream “Uglies” on Netflix now