Coyote Ugly

Coyote Ugly is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus and Stan, and in the US on Hulu, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Piper Perabo sets the tone, and the rest of the cast matches it scene for scene. Put it on tonight on Disney Plus and see for yourself.

There is a reason Coyote Ugly keeps coming up in conversation. Coyote Ugly gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. Graced with a velvet voice, 21-year-old Violet Sanford heads to New York to pursue her dream of becoming a songwriter only to find her aspirations sidelined by the accolades and notoriety she receives at her "day" job as a barmaid at Coyote Ugly. The "Coyotes" as they are affectionately called tantalize customers and the media alike with their outrageous antics, making Coyote Ugly the watering hole for guys on the prowl. Piper Perabo and Maria Bello lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It hit screens in 2000. What keeps Coyote Ugly from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Coyote Ugly. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Piper Perabo is funny in a way that holds up on rewatch. Put it on when you need something guaranteed to land.