Coyote Ugly

While you can be excused for forgetting the storyline during the dazzling, slickly edited and high-energy bar scenes, Coyote Ugly is actually the sweet story of Violet Sanford (Perabo).

This 21-year-old belle from a small town in New Jersey moves to New York City with aspirations of becoming a songwriter.

But reality crashes down hard for this beautiful bumpkin, and soon she finds herself with nothing but a couple of dollars and a sack of returned demo tapes.

This is where the 'coyotes' fit in as Violet, now nicknamed Jersey, gets a job at the hottest bar in town, Coyote Ugly.

She soon finds herself behind and on top of the counter strutting her stuff with the likes of Tyra Banks and calling, as well as pouring, the shots.

Her dad Bill (Goodman) is none too happy about this development in Violet's career path but she continues regardless, under the watchful eye of hardball owner Lil (Bello, formerly of ER) and love interest Kevin (Garcia).

Bill finds it hard to say goodbye to his little girl and Violet's ardent ambition doesn't do the situation any favours.

Nor does it help her blossoming relationship with Kevin, whose apparent lack of ambition seems equally blameworthy for a failure to communicate.

We're left to wonder whether the lovebirds will make up in time for Violet's moment of truth or whether she'll crumple under the stage-fright that has stung her musical career so far.

Dominic Bloch