Although Director Kelly Asbury’s relatively calm, inoffensive film may not be the “musical event of the year” that the studio promises, ‘Ugly Dolls’ has a few charms for specific audiences. Very young children will find the story, animations, and characters a delightful experience, and adults taking them to the movie can sit back and relax to music sung by name talent. The songs tell the story of self-acceptance and tolerance of individual differences.

  For dolls produced in the factory, there are only two options, perfection and a child’s love the Big World or rejection and Uglyville, a charmingly-weird mash-up of misfit toys, brightly-colored, oddly-shaped structures, and wacky, happy fun. Although the life of the town seems delightful, Moxy (voice of Kelly Clarkson), dreams that “today will be the day” she’s being transported to the Big World and finding a loving child, emphasized in song as all the plot points will be throughout the film.

Then, Moxy gets the idea to follow the tube that the rejected plush toys shoot out of when sent to Uglyville. After a little convincing, Ugly Dog (Voice of Pitbull) a cyclops with a cat-like nature and one neon yellow eye, Babo (voice of Gabriel Iglesias), the large gray plushie who’s strong yet not the brightest crayon in the box, and Lucky Bat (voice of Leehom Wang), whose only bit of anatomical unluckiness is misplaced teeth. The aproned Wage (voice of Wanda Sykes), who has two protruding, lower teeth and, no surprise, an attitude, needs more persuasion.

Eventually, the come to the Institute of Perfection, where newly-minted dolls achieve individualism tempered by conformity, lots of conformity as preached by Lou (voice of Nick Jonas), master showman, motivational speaker, and dictator, and aided by his minions. Lou lets Moxy and friends try to achieve the perfection needed to leave for the Big World’s loving children. However, he’s really plotting to prove that imperfect toys can never achieve perfection or master the gauntlet of a simulated house.

  While Mandy (voice of Janelle Monae) escorts Moxy and company to their quarters, she reveals a flaw she is hiding, and Moxy finds an ally. Meanwhile, Lou’s spy girls (voices of Bebe Rexha, Charli XCX, and Lizzo), chief among his minions, kidnap Ox (voice of Blake Shelton), the leader of Uglyville who is a green rabbit with an X where one eye should be. Then, a secret is revealed about Ox and Lou’s past.

The many songs promise entertainment for adult, and small children, under 5 or 6, will find the positive lessons easy to understand. On one level, the straightforward messages seem innocuous and positive; however, the visualization of the messages favor perfection being better than the heartfelt positives of self-acceptance and tolerance. The dolls in perfection have very minor flaws and none of them end up in Uglyville. Also, since perfect teeth also seem to be the mark of perfection, one wonders if a dental association supported the production.

As will most musicals, the music makes the film, despite the derivative nature of the story. Most viewers will see references to Whoville, The Island of Misfit Toys, ‘Toy Story,’ and ‘Stargate.’ The well-produced songs, sung by talented singers, carry the movie and convey much of the story and messages in songs small children can easily embrace and remember. ‘UglyDolls,’ a STX Entertainment release, is rated PG for thematic elements and brief action and runs a well-paced 87 minutes. ‘UglyDolls,’ although not the best-animated film of the year, has its value.