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BY MAGGIE SCOTT
Picture Rock Hudson and Doris Day afflicted with Tourette’s disease (the one that makes a person curse uncontrollably) in an episode of TV’s “Sex in the City” and you’ll have some idea of what to expect with The Ugly Truth. From the sight of adorable Katherine Heigl and swarthy Gerard Butler tossing at office colleagues and the viewing public—as well as lobbing at each other—words no genteel gal or classy gent would exchange in polite society.

Polite society of Rock Hudson and Doris Day’s era, that is. Alas, polite society has moved on from those demure days, and there’s not much that would have gotten a kid’s mouth washed out with soap then that isn’t expected from men and women now, no matter what or who they’re facing.

Abby Richter (Heigl) hasn’t gotten to be producer of a Sacramento TV station’s morning show by being a shy violet. She’s assertive, confident and a control freak; dresses for comfort and efficiency—complete with a pair of fashionable but studious-looking spectacles—and hasn’t curled up in bed with anything other than her cat in over a year. Could it be the ponytail she sports that says, according to the “uber moronic misogynist” Mike Chadway (Butler) she’s either “operating heavy machinery, or about to clean the litter box”?

Chadway, late of public-access TV, has invaded Abby’s domain to jump-start her show’s ratings. His outrageous call-in show, “The Ugly Truth,” with its diatribes against females’ misguided attempts to short-circuit males’ hard-wired baser instincts, has earned him devoted fans. They include the heavy-breathing ladies on his answering machine; grudging admirers—like the married anchors on Abby’s show Chadway goaded back into hot-to-trot; and frosty foes, like Abby, who “feels dirty” after Chadway’s segment featuring his frolics in a pool of cherry jello with two wrestling bikini models earned the show a 12 share.

Unfazed at Abby’s put-downs, Chadway sees an opening when she reveals doubts about her ability to interest a hunky orthopedist or to impress him on a date. Feigning big brother concern, Chadway shares his “rules” of the dating road and coaches Abby through a crucial phone call and first date with Colin (Eric Winter). But, the game gets serious when he realizes his makeover of Abby has also made over his love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude.

Abby could be the one woman who defies all the rules. The churlish Chadway and repressed Richter strike sparks of shock and awe as his boorish bravado and her clueless cuteness collide early on in crudely capering sparring that not unexpectedly eventually evolves into startled passion and suspect feeling.

Although the raunch gets layered on a bit thick for a romantic comedy starring such a refined and surprisingly deft comedienne, Heigl’s sweet sparkle shines true through any ugly moments her swaggering, but undeniably sexy costar provides. A Sony Picutures release rated R for language, sexual content, partial nudity.

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