The Duff Movie Review

Bianca, a frumpy high-school senior, is in for a rude awakening when she discovers that her classmates secretly refer to her as the DUFF - designated ugly fat friend - in comparison to her more attractive and popular friends. Feeling desperate to change her image, she seeks the help of Wesley, a charming jock, in her quest to reinvent herself. In order to save her senior year from turning into a complete disaster, Bianca must summon the confidence to challenge a judgmental student, portrayed by Bella Thorne, and transform the school's social hierarchy.

The movie "The DUFF" is a romantic comedy with a PG-13 rating due to some language, crude and sexual material, and teen partying. Directed by Ari Sandel and produced by McG, Mary Viola, and Susan Cartsonis, it was released in theaters on February 20, 2015, and later made available for streaming on June 9, 2015. With a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes, the film was written by Josh A. Cagan and distributed by CBS Films. It grossed $34.0 million in the United States at the box office.

“The DUFF” pays homage to John Hughes’ classic 80s teen movies and nods to “The Breakfast Club” by starting off with a group of high school students serving detention together. However, it quickly becomes its own funny and fast-paced phenomenon with its own modern-day charm.

The film centers around Bianca, played by Mae Whitman, who is labeled as the DUFF, or the Designated Ugly Fat Friend, by the popular girls at school. Whitman’s performance is both grounded and radiant, with flawless comic timing and inspiring choices in terms of delivery and expression. Her chemistry with Robbie Amell, who plays the hunky captain of the high school football team, is sparkling and unexpected.

Wesley Rush, played by Amell, informs Bianca that she is the DUFF to her two gorgeous and popular best friends. Although Bianca is usually the smartest person in the room, she had never realized this about herself, sending her into a tailspin. She enlists Wesley’s help in making herself over, while he needs her help in passing chemistry class. The two navigate their lifelong friendship while also dealing with the advances of Wesley’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, the resident mean girl, Madison.

Director Ari Sandel keeps things moving at a lively pace, with clever nods to social media and clever avenues into the tired tropes of the genre. However, the film missteps by laying it on too thick with speechifying about self-esteem and defying labels towards the end. Despite this, the film defies expectations and even manages to make Ken Jeong’s antics tolerable.

Overall, “The DUFF” is a modern-day teen movie with its own charm, anchored by Mae Whitman’s radiant performance and unexpected chemistry with Robbie Amell.

Other type review

“The DUFF” pays homage to classic teen movies of the 1980s, acknowledging its roots in John Hughes’ films, such as “The Breakfast Club.” The movie quickly establishes its own identity, boasting a modern-day charm that makes it a funny and fast-paced phenomenon. Mae Whitman’s portrayal of Bianca, the Designated Ugly Fat Friend, is a significant contributor to the film’s allure. The director, Ari Sandel, establishes that DUFFness is a relative concept, and Whitman’s flawless comic timing and excellent delivery make her a star. Whitman's character, Bianca, also has sparkling chemistry with her next-door neighbor, Wesley Rush, played by Robbie Amell. Amell gives a surprising and excellent performance as the hunky captain of the high school football team, bringing the requisite swagger, a sense of humor, and even sweetness to his role.

Wesley informs Bianca that she's the DUFF to her two beautiful and popular best friends, and this realization sends her into a tailspin. Allison Janney's portrayal of Bianca's recently divorced mom is touching, and she tries to perk her up with self-help platitudes. The discovery also inspires Bianca to take action and make herself over on her terms. Wesley helps her pass chemistry class, and she enlists him to be her guide. The film takes the viewer on a journey of discovery as Bianca finds out who she is and how to love herself, even if she doesn't fit the conventional standard of beauty.

Director Sandel's background in the musical comedy and documentary genre gives the film a unique and lively approach, keeping up with the theme of the proliferation of social media. Sandel even manages to find clever ways to make tired tropes of the genre, like the trying-on-clothes montage, fresh and fun. While the film bops along deftly, it missteps toward the end by laying it on too thick with speechifying about self-esteem and defying labels. However, it is a small issue in comparison to the film's overall entertainment value.

In conclusion, "The DUFF" is a film that defies expectations and gives viewers a chance to witness Bianca's journey of self-discovery, with a message about self-love and acceptance. It is a movie that combines classic teen movie tropes with a modern twist, and it is an entertaining and enjoyable watch for viewers of all ages.