Personality Zone

Coyote Ugly

Something for the Sensing

The basics: Girl [name] leaves home with a dream and a guitar and becomes a star. Along the way she gets the guy, loses him, and gets him again. She fights with her dad (John Goodman), and then comes to a new, grown-up understanding with him. And, she wins the respect of a tough boss [name] and hard-hearted coworkers (Tyra Banks, etc.) who sabotage and haze her. The twist? She works slinging drinks, dirty dancing, and sassing customers at the Coyote Ugly Saloon, a real-life New York City bar.

Screen time is about evenly divided between the sentimental and the raucous: tender dad-daughter moments, barroom brawls, sexy dancing, and inspirational monologues. Character development and dramatic tension are in short supply. Violet's love interest Kevin [name] seems to be a stock, sensitive "nice guy," driven less by passion for his girl or her music than by his conviction that Violet ought to make something of herself. The conflict between Violet and her father is resolved through a deus ex machina sort of crisis. A polished, well-crafted and enjoyable movie to watch -- don't hold your breath waiting for the scholarly commentary.

Verdict: Light fare that will be fun your Guardian or Artisan partner. If you want to impress or entertain an Idealist or Rational, make another choice.