​FILMS

the duff

2015 review number 89:

The DUFF: (Comedy): 72 out of 100: Here is another American high school comedy which has an ugly duckling as the central character. If you have ever experienced bullying as a teenager, you should appreciate the values and opinions that are delivered in this amusing although predictable film.

 

Bianca (Mae Whitman) is an aspiring journalist who attends Malloy High, a co-educational school where students are given labels. She narrates the film and to introduce the main characters, labels and captions are displayed on the screen. There's her two best friends, Casey (Bianca A. Santos) and Jess (Skyler Samuels) who are the beauties. There's Wes (Robbie Amell) who is the football jock and next door neighbour of Bianca. To round off the main characters, there's Madison (Bella Thorne) who is the evil bitch and Wes' on again/off again girlfriend. Bianca just can't seem to score a date and it's left to Wes, whom she despises, to inform her that she is simply a DUFF or Designated Ugly Fat Friend. This person doesn't have to be ugly or fat, it's just someone who is worse off than another person. To make matters worse, Madison uploads an embarrassing video of her to make her the butt of Malloy High's jokes. It's up to Bianca to discover her own identity and work with what she has.

 

Hollywood continues its ridiculous tradition of having people older than teenagers assuming these roles. The two main actors in Whitman and Amell were both born in 1987. You can do the math. They both look too old to play teenagers but they do a fine job nonetheless. Whitman especially demonstrates a comedic talent which propels her gawkiness, sarcasm and banter. Amell reminds me of a young Tom Cruise from All the Right Moves. If he has a career like Cruise's, he'll be laughing all the way to the bank. He is handsome and has all the right moves in strutting his physical presence. The co-stars who play the students all portray their stereotypes with efficiency. They might be clichés but that is what the film is aiming for, to promote the stereotypes that are evident in numerous high schools.

 

There is some social commentary which will appeal to Generations Y and Z where cyberbullying is prevalent. The story is so topical that it allows the filmmakers to attract younger audiences and not bore them to death with social graces..many of the situations are light and promote an air of fun and enjoyment which teenage audiences should appreciate. Older viewers who have experienced bullying will also empathise and sympathise with those characters who have been labelled DUFFs. Credit must be given to director Ari Sandel who makes his feature film debut. His directing style is innovative and ensures that viewers won't be rolling their eyes over another high school comedy.

 

The adult cast members in Janney who plays Bianca's mother, and Jeong who portrays Bianca's English teacher, have enough time in the spotlight to make their roles relevant to the whole production. Some of their dialogue when providing advice to Bianca is reflective of how some adults deal with children when they are experiencing angst.

 

You can see the ending from a mile away but that doesn't take away the enjoyment of the whole film. It's not your average American high school comedy as the characters and situations elevate the production to a richer experience.

 

Starring Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Ken Jeong and Allison Janney

(101 minutes)

Parental advice: Sexual references and coarse language

Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, outtakes are shown during some of the closing credits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tbRlEXrysU (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Monday 29th June, 2015)

 

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