COYOTE UGLY
A Touchstone Pictures release 

review by Joseph B. Mauceri

Synopsis: Girl leaves Bayonne, New Jersey, to live in New York City in order to pursue her dream of becoming songwriter. Misfortune lands her at a bar, Coyote Ugly, where rough neck female bartenders put on a show and rake in the bucks. The feel of hard, cold cash leads her astray for her dream. Can she escape the bar, win back her boyfriend and reclaim her father's love? 

Review: COYOTE UGLY, as a actual bar in the film, is an amalgamation of two New York City watering holes. There is actually a Coyote Ugly in the East Village, and the atmosphere and interiors ¯ and the location used in the film ¯ is Hogs & Heffers in the West Village.

As a film, COYOTE UGLY is your basic coming of age film, but soften a bit by the p.c. attitudes of the last decade. Perabo is adorable, and pleasantly surprising. She reminded me of Sarah Jessica Parker back in the days when she was a cute teenager. I hope that was Perabo singing in the film, because whoever it was had a truly wonderful voice. The least utilized name in the credits is Tyra Banks. She is the fourth barmaid. When we meet her she is one her way to law school and allows Violet to step in to the bar, and then shows up briefly two more times. Overall, I found the cast extremely entertaining and a joy to watch.

COYOTE UGLY is cliched film that is saved by a talented cast. Yes, they can dance, but they can also act. The filmmakers try to exploit their talent cast. There are times that Bruckheimer feel creeps in and this small film thinks it's got the hustle and muscle to take on "Top Gun." Specifically, there were two scenes. The first comes when Lil (Bello) confronts Violet at her day job, and the second comes as the Jerseites are heading to the city and all the lights and bells go off at the toll booth.

I really could not find fault with the characterization of Violet, or her rudimentary story. Her actions are Violet's choices. She is taking her shot at that brass ring, and she's bound to make some mistakes along the way. Violet is innocent and naive, but she is never a helpless victim. Her NY apartment is robbed. But it is due to no fault of her own. It was her choice to come to the city, and New York is shown as a good place as well as a place where bad things can happen, like any other place. I was impressed to see that the character learns from her mistakes and overcomes challenges. She has to make some tough choices, and with a little hard work and perseverance she succeeds. There are a lot worse characters out there that young girls can view as role models.

There is an element of COYOTE UGLY that is authentic. I once worked in a New York bar that was as memorable as the one portrayed in the film. There were those who were lifers, those who had gotten lost along the way, and some who woke up and made it out. Why I know a chef who went on to become a successful writers. Then there was the waitress who landed a leading role in the WB television series "Popular." 

While some critics are sure to waste lots of time picking  COYOTE UGLY apart, some of us rather just sit back and enjoy the fluff for what it is. Maybe they're being so critical because it is beyond their scope of experience. How can they possibly appreciate it if they haven't lived it.

OFFICIAL WEB SITE:
www.coyoteugly.movies.com

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