Pretty Ugly People

The cinematic narrative commences with a poignant monologue delivered by Lucy (Missi Pyle), who candidly shares her experiences as an overweight individual amidst a circle of slender friends in college. Her heartfelt lamentation is punctuated by an urgent phone call to her friend Becky (Melissa McCarthy), whom she implores to gather their shared acquaintances for one final, farewell excursion to visit Lucy at Holland Lake Lodge in Condon, Montana, where she now oversees the establishment.

As orchestrated by Becky, the group of friends converges at an airport in Big Sky Country. The assembly includes Becky's husband Richard and introduces them to a diverse array of characters: commodities trader George, Grammy-nominated rap producer Trevor, flight attendant Austin, and State Representative Raye, who is accompanied by his wife Mary (Octavia Spencer). Upon their arrival at the lodge, they are greeted by an alluring blonde woman whose unfamiliarity prompts Lucy to reveal her true identity - a person unrecognizable from her former self.

During lunch, Lucy candidly discloses to her friends that she has undergone gastric bypass surgery and is mere pounds away from achieving her ideal weight. The next morning, Lucy awakens the group with an unexpected announcement: they will embark on a four-day hiking excursion, culminating in her shedding her final four pounds. As the majority of the film unfolds amidst the breathtaking Montana landscape, the lives of Lucy's friends are gradually exposed through their individual struggles and insecurities.

George's revelation about his sexual orientation serves as a catalyst for the group to confront their own personal demons. Raye and Mary's unhappy marriage is revealed, leading Mary to remove her wedding ring and sever ties with Raye. Similarly, Becky's troubled marriage to Richard is laid bare, exposing her extramarital affair with a coworker. As the hiking trip comes to a close, Lucy prepares dinner for her friends before Sam arrives to transport them back to reality.

The group's collective ire is palpable as they prepare to part ways, with Becky's anger directed primarily at Lucy for orchestrating the reunion without their knowledge. In a poignant moment of introspection, Lucy confesses that she believed achieving a slender physique would bring her happiness akin to that of her friends; however, through this journey, she has come to realize that none of them are truly content, and that weight loss is merely a superficial aspect of their lives.

As the group careens back to the lodge in the midst of chaos, Sam's sudden and devastating heart attack sends the bus hurtling off the road, a catastrophic turn of events that claims his life on the spot. The tragedy is compounded by Richard's passing as he awaits medical assistance, his final act a poignant apology to Becky for past transgressions. In the aftermath, the survivors - weary but grateful - are left to grapple with the magnitude of their loss.

Meanwhile, Raye seizes the opportunity to prove his mettle, racing off to secure aid and in doing so, silencing Mary's doubts about his capacity for selflessness. His efforts ultimately yield a triumphant result: he returns to Washington, where he claims a coveted Senate seat.

As the dust settles on this turbulent episode, the survivors - now scarred but resilient - gather for a balm of time spent in idyllic repose. The sun-kissed beach provides a serene backdrop for their collective catharsis, as Lucy and Becky, the latter now pregnant with Richard's legacy, wade into the waves to scatter his ashes, a poignant tribute to the man they loved. In the end, it is not the turmoil that defines them but the unshakeable bonds of friendship forged in the crucible of adversity. As they embrace, their grief and gratitude entwined like the tender shoots of new life.