For the uninitiated, the term Fugly was born online. It’s a witty of the f word and ugly. Put together they denote something more than just not-pretty, something that is repulsive. But the word has a zestful pun. It’s almost always used with a fun connotation. To use it to describe real scenarios and life-altering themes is to perhaps employ mix metaphors.

The odd title is just one of the many negatives in this unimaginative attempt at a political thriller

Fugly is a disappointing and an ordinary fare with very little entertainment value. It has some chance in the big cities only because of the youthful appeal of its title and music. Its low budget is its biggest plus point.

Fugly is faux-righteous, and the punctured script makes it silly, pretentious and technically wanting. The acting too is extremely patchy. The four newcomers are unable to bring any depth to the poorly-etched characters that pay lip service to headlines and social networking-driven angst.

In trying to be candid, the language becomes crass. In trying to be funny, the emotions feel manufactured. And the fresh cast seems to have been chosen only on the basis of look test.

A silly, hackneyed rehash that lives up to the title.

It’s very rare that I go into a theatre without the least expectations and come out smiling. Fugly is one of those rare moments. Jimmy Shergill shines, while others please in this socially relevant film.