[UGLYDOLLS: The Movie Novel]
Differences between the novelization and the final film!
Hello everyone! As the title suggests, I have recently gotten my hands on a copy of the novelization of the UGLYDOLLS movie! While the book and movie are very similar to one another, there are some changes made that I'd like to discuss. From little fun facts, to dialogue changes, to BACKSTORY changes, I've documented as much as I could! I provide both images of the passages and my own explanations.
Intrigued? Look under the cut!
Let's start simple: Peggy is a girl! She is referred to with she/her throughout the book. Unsure if she was changed to a guy for the movie or if she just has a deep voice.
Some pictures are blurred at the edges, which I apologize for. My camera is weird. Anyway, here's a lyric change!
Shout out to the Easter Button and Santa Cloth.
It's neat that they acknowledge how odd it is that Wedgehead is born with knowledge of the Big World. If only they expanded on that more, but alas.
Ox wore a fedora???? I humbly request fanart of this hehe
Lucky Bat is given more characterization throughout the book, so I used this page to show it off. He has dreams of being a superhero, but he feels he isn't fantastical enough and settles on being the town healer instead, mostly faking it 'till he made it. This helps build up to him being the one to stop Lou at the end of the book/movie. Although, not much more is done with it, which is a shame.
I just thought the joke change here was funny.
The robots are called "Guide-bots" only on this page? Odd. And Meghan's name was originally "Susan" and SHE was the engineer, not Michael, who doesn't exist in the book.
For some reason, the Spy Girls aren't given names right away. I thought they were unnamed at first, but no, it just took a while for their names to be said. Also, who do you think that "tall, muscular" doll mentioned at the end of the page is?
It's Nolan! Who is similarly unnamed for an oddly long time. Anyway, enjoy Lou's introduction. He's also described with "big, burly muscles" like? No? But whatever helps him sleep at night.
Thought this passage was funny + a slight lyric change.
Now THIS is a full circle moment for ME SPECIFICALLY. A while ago, I was learning the lyrics to The Ugly Truth and thought one of the lines the backup singers sung sounded off from the lyrics on screen. I checked other sources and they all said the line was "Back that hip like triple fry" which made no sense, but hey, EVERYWHERE said that was the lyric, so I forgot about it. THIS JUSTIFIED ME SO BAD! THE LYRIC SOUNDED WRONG BECAUSE IT WAS WRONG! EVERY SOURCE HAS THE LYRIC WRITTEN WRONG! It's "bag that head like triple ply" WHICH MAKES MORE SENSE! I think this went unchecked for so long because, unlike what the book might suggest, the movie version of the song doesn't say this line, only the soundtrack version. Thus, no one could double check with the captions of the film. SPREAD THE WORD! I WAS RIGHT! Ahem, anyway...
I included a few passages here to show that Mandy is characterized a bit differently. She's more standoffish and quick to anger than the sweet doll we know. While interesting, I'm glad she's nicer in the movie. She doesn't have much of a presence in the novel despite still having all her scenes, and I think this personality change is why.
Nolan is described as handsome multiple times, which is funny since he is considered ugly in the movie.
Ugly Dog throws hands with the robot dog during the training montage, which I wish we could've seen animated.
Lou saying manscaping instead of dollscaping, and there's a cut out gag of Nolan accidentally being in the way (and being called handsome again). I can hear the "Can-can you move?" in Lou's voice so clearly lmao
Now this is the craziest change. Originally, Ox and Lou ran the gauntlet together as to not be separated but both failed. Probably because he's a reject, Ox is forcibly taken away by the robots to be recycled, leaving Lou powerless to stop them. Like, wow. The idea of Lou not being behind Ox's recycling is so interesting. Not knowing what happened to your best friend and just having to move on is so tragic. Although, hate to ruin the fun, but it is still revealed later that Lou IS behind Ox's recycling. The ending fight between them has the same dialogue as the movie, which directly contradicts this page here? Did he just, like, tell the robots to do his dirty work for him and pretend to be helpless? And why run the gauntlet with Ox if he knew he wouldn't pass? Yeeeah, I can see why this was changed. I demand an angsty AU based on the original backstory tho please oh please
Lou has the pretty dolls cut his cuticles and brush his hair? Specifically at night? Dolls don't have cuticles???
Other Uglydolls being name dropped :)
Two of the robots have names. Originally, probably due to her more bold personality, Mandy egged Lou into joining them in the gauntlet. Unsure why, but hey, it's neat.
Nolan was damaged by the dog enough to where him being able to stand is noteworthy. Ahem, I ask yet again for angsty Nolan fanart of that
The dolls made themselves into a slingshot? Sure, why not. Shout out to Lucky Bat finally flying (or soaring?)! It's more rewarding with it set up at the beginning, ain't it. Wish they kept that.
Kitty being the one to say Lydia's line instead. A doll just straight up wants to kill Lou, even Moxy is taken aback HAHA
Babo and Nolan interaction. Potential buddies? I really wish they had animated Lou being washed. Imagine the gif potential!
Instead of putting the glass back together, the power of hope and friendship allowed their hands to relight the portal.
They kept in the "eighty-three minutes" joke despite it not working with the context of this being a book lol
And finally, the cutest detail of all: Moxy's kid's name is Maizy!
Overall, this was a very interesting read. Most novelizations that release simultaneously to their movies are based on older scripts, not the final product, and it shows here. Mostly the same, but the differences are fun to spot. Fun fact, some of these changes can be seen in old trailers for the movie! I left out a few smaller changes, mainly slight wording differences. Literally just realized I forgot the passage that implies the Gauntlet is a yearly event. Probably not canon to the final movie because why would only a handful of dolls pass quality control in a year, but eh, a fun fact is a fun fact. Anyway, I hope y’all found this as interesting as I did!
Stay ugly, my friends!
