A csúnya lány: A charming, old-school disguise caper

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for black-and-white comedies where the misunderstandings are high and the stakes are low, you’ll probably dig this. If you get annoyed by plots that hinge on someone wearing a pair of glasses to become 'unrecognizable,' you might want to skip it. It’s a very 1930s kind of farce, but it’s got a rhythm that kept me watching.

Dr. Halmi is basically a grumpy guy who thinks he’s being professional by only hiring women he finds unattractive. It’s a ridiculous rule, really. But the movie knows it’s ridiculous, which makes the whole thing feel more like a game than a lecture.

The transformation scene? Classic. Watching the lead character slap on that wig and get into character is the kind of stuff that just doesn't happen in modern movies anymore. It’s not subtle. It’s not trying to be. It’s just fun.

The office dynamics are surprisingly snappy. There’s a lot of walking in and out of rooms, people hiding behind doors, and that specific type of fast-talking humor you find in stuff like He Laughs Last. Some of the supporting cast are doing way too much with their facial expressions, but I didn't mind. It feels like they were having a genuinely good time on set.

Odd little things I noticed:

• The glasses are comically large, and it’s a wonder she can even see the desk.
• Every time the lawyer gets angry, he paces like he’s trying to wear a hole in the floorboards.
• The pacing hits a weird lull in the middle where I almost checked my phone, but then it picks right back up.
• There’s a background extra in the office scene who looks like he’s trying not to laugh in every single shot.

You can tell the movie is building toward the inevitable reveal where the mask slips. It’s predictable as anything, but that’s the comfort of it. It’s like eating a meal you’ve had a hundred times. You know exactly when the spice hits, and you like it anyway.

It’s nowhere near as polished as something like Les aventures du roi Pausole, but it doesn't need to be. It feels like a stage play that just happened to have a camera pointed at it. It’s breezy. It’s silly. It’s a nice way to spend a Tuesday night when you’re tired of everything being so serious.

Maybe don't think too hard about the 'ugly' premise. Just lean into the charm. 🍿