Ladies, who of you hasn’t secretly dreamed of getting up on a bar and dancing promiscuously, while soaking wet? And men, who of you hasn’t dreamed of watching this?
Maybe these hidden fantasies are what make Coyote Ugly so appealing, because the plot is about as cliche as they come. Small-town girl moves to the city to pursue a songwriting career, only to find herself masquerading as a bartender/exotic dancer. Despite initial reservations, she soon learns, with the help of a little karaoke, to embrace her inner “coyote.” She also falls in love with a hunky chef who helps her accomplish her life goal of writing a song for LeAnn Rimes. Big dreams.
Despite the film’s predictability, awful acting and many cringe-inducing moments, Coyote Ugly will make you smile ear-to-ear. The star-studded cast of Tyra Banks, Maria Bello, and Piper Perabo, all gyrating in ridiculous outfits is enough to bring on the laughter, but its appeal is mostly cathartic. It allows you to live out your fantasy of being an uninhibited, half-naked coyote bartender without having to endure horny, middle-aged men or tight leather pants. Now that would just be ugly.
