Ugly Me

VANCOUVER PREMIERE  │ An attractive architect goes to great lengths to disguise her good looks in first-time director Claudio Dabed’s hit romantic comedy. “Cashing in on the double whammy of the Ugly Betty phenomenon and Mexican telenovela star Bárbara Mori’s popularity, Ugly Me begins as a high-concept feminist comedy but morphs into a sensitized romance between unlikely opposites ... Santiago architect Amanda (Mori) has the moxie of a Rosalind Russell and the allure of a Veronica Lake, but she also has a hubby who’s cheating and a cowardly boss, who doesn’t back her when she needs his support.  Amanda leaves Santiago for the small coastal burg of Valparaiso. Convinced men won’t take her seriously unless she glams down, Amanda uses every makeup trick in the book to ensure she’s an instant turnoff . . . Sure enough, she scores a post with a small firm run by Max (Jaime Azócar) on smarts alone. However, one of the firm’s partners is ladies’ man Marcelo (Argentine actor Marcelo Mazzarello) . . . The film is a Mori star vehicle from start to finish, and fans may be surprised how well her Ugly Betty spin actually works on screen” (Variety). An English-language remake, to be directed by Dabed, was announced earlier this year. Colour, DVD, in Spanish with English subtitles. 108 mins.