Coyote Ugly (2000) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA 2000
Director: David McNally
Cast: Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia, Izabella Miko, Bridget Moynahan, LeAnn Rimes, Tyra Banks, Maria Bello, John Goodman, Melanie Lynskey
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: 31 July 2000
Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes

The Movie Review

Coyote Ugly film still 1


COYOTE UGLY
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Back in the dawn of the millennium (aka year 2000), this movie was one of those that intrigued me to buy the ticket because of the title alone. Frankly, I have no idea what it's about and why the title boasted the word "Ugly" in big size, when every single lady on the cover is anything but ugly!

Besides, this October and November in Indonesia, everybody is on the hype of Julia Roberts filming her latest movie entitled Eat, Pray, Love in various location in Bali, the movie itself is based on best-seller novel written by Elizabeth Gilbert. What's the connection between Coyote Ugly and Eat, Pray, Love you ask? Well, I just found something interesting, it is said on Eat, Pray, Love fan's blog that Elizabeth Gilbert was the one that inspired the premise and story of Coyote Ugly. It is based on her article "The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon" on Gentlemen's Quarterly men's magazine. But of course, the other reason why I write a review of Coyote Ugly, because this film truly deserves an attention, it's one of the movies that I had the pleasure to see it with my equally-curios friends. So what's the meaning of Coyote Ugly? I'll tell you later.

Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo) is leaving her hometown, South Amboy, New Jersey to go travel 42 miles to the big New York City to live her dream as a songwriter, despite her father's (John Goodman) and the town's mild objection. Violet will soon learn that it's not as easy at it sounds, and it may be harder beyond her worst-case scenario. For first stop, she's yelled at for playing her organ in a crammed apartment, so she moves her equipment to the rooftop (which is a great excuse to make the scene beautiful by the way), and second of all, the studios would not take a tape unless it comes from an agent, but Violet can't get an agent until she get published (oh my the ol' sucky money-finding problems). One night Violet sees a glimpse of hope in the form of a man named Kevin O'Donnell (Adam Garcia). Kevin opens a new window of opportunity for her with sweet things that feel more precious in this big 'heartless' city and Violet lucks seems to be better when she got an auditioned as a Coyote! A smokin' hot dancer on the Coyote Ugly bar where all the waitress could sing, yell and dance!

Violet will get to know Cammie the Russian Tease (Izabella Miko), Rachel the New York B*tch (Bridget Moynahan), and the Ex-Coyote, Zoe (Tyra Banks). Anyhow, Violet's problems don't stop there, the owner a stern woman, Lil (Maria Bello) would not hesitate either to praise her or fire her on spot. Moreover, Violet's father doesn't know that his daughter is currently doing some borderline-stripper kind of actions to earn some dollars. Will Violet tell her dad? And could this job go smooth with Kevin? What about her dream as a songwriter?

What can I say? This movie is great, truly exciting and a real feel-good movie, you know the one that makes you smile and feel good about yourself or about hopes in life. The feeling that we usually have from Sports movies, the ones that make us feel good without having to burst into tears first.

Besides all the cast's performances are remarkable for a musical movie, and that being said, it also means that the soundtracks are awesome. We've got "I Will Survive", and IMF's "Unbelievable", The Calling's pre-stardom with "Wherever You Will Go", "Follow Me" by Uncle Kracker, "Cowboy" by Kid Rock, "Pour Some Sugar On Me" by Def Leppard and of course LeAnn Rimes "Can't Fight the Moonlight". And she even made a cameo appearance on this movie. Who else made a cameo here? One person for sure, it's the wacky Johnny Knoxville in his pre-Jackass fame.

Coyote Ugly is not just a regular musical movie, it also knows how to amuse the audience with its simple but effective comedy. Take for an example the picture above, Lil (the left woman) says "I'd like you to meet my new girl... Jersey. Jersey is an ex-kindergarten teacher and a former nun who just escaped from the convent and is tired of being the only virgin in New York City!" Nice! Imagine the riot! :-D

And why does the title say "Coyote Ugly"? I'm just gonna quote directly from Lil's explanation "Did you ever wake up sober after a one-night stand and the person you're next to is laying on your arm, and they're so ugly you'd rather chew off your arm than risk waking them?" That's Coyote Ugly. Then why Coyote? Well apparently Coyotes are the type of animal that are willing to chew off their body parts in order to escape when they're trapped.

Once again, Coyote Ugly is a good movie, but certainly this film doesn't escape the slippery floor of Flaws, like the Cheesy McChickyFlicky storyline, the old cliché of bad luck and opportunity where every thing seems fall to the predictable place. Even though I said before the actresses' performances are remarkable for a musical film, but from the real acting capacity quality, no one shines very well, maybe this flaw had to be shared with the script. Only Maria Bello that shows us above-average performance.

Coyote Ugly simply has many things that will appeal to moviegoers (and several things that will irk movie critics). But since our motto is From Moviegoers For Moviegoers, then I gave this movie high rating because it could give the audience: An exciting story, well-paced, great soundtracks, stunningly beautiful girls who could sing, dance, tease, cheer and Act!, good chemistry between Piper Perabo and Adam Garcia, funny scenes, good touching relationship between dad and daughter and one more thing, a very sweet ending scenes that is very very rare. But the most important thing of all, it would give its audience a good feeling afterwards, and I sincerely think that's one of the greatest benefit from watching a movie…