Film Review | The DUFF

High school always comes with labels. But just as you’ve settled into your little niche, there seems to be new tag to bug you. Today, it’s: The “DUFF” – a.k.a. The Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Now ideally, you’d take that label literally, but apparently you don’t have to be fat or ugly – in the best way, it just means you “friended-up”, or in plain English, your friends are better looking than you. Although the label is a little hurtful, it’s also coded for, “the approachable one” or “the one with the in-tell on the hotties”.

The Story

Based on Kody Keplinger’s novel, The DUFF follows Bianca’s (Mae Whitman) journey through the five stages of self-acceptance with society’s latest label for teens today. Let’s face it, new label or old label, you still need the classics, which brings us to jock/hottie, Wesley (Robbie Amell) and mean girl, Madison (Bella Thorne) – the stereotypes that have lasted through the ages.

The DUFF is not this generation’s Mean Girls or John Tucker Must Die, in fact, it’s simply an addition to these films. It’s another film that takes this current generation’s normalities - like technology, reality TV, and (sadly – with a brush off) porn – and turns it into a funny relatable teen-film.

Yes, there’s nothing new, but it’s still freaking hilarious and worth watching regardless of age, race, gender or class. This is a film that everyone will enjoy.

The Cast

Mae Whiteman is brilliant in portraying a downcast DUFF. She is hilarious in her progression from and oblivious honour-roll student to full-blown DUFF ambassador. She made you laugh at awkward moments with her mum, teachers and friends, while also believed that she was both repulsed and in-love with her long-time neighbour and frenemy, Wesley (Robbie Amell).

Robbie Amell is just as equally hilarious in his portrayal of the classic jock. But like with changing, he’s a jock with a great eye for fashion without falling into the closet-gay-footballer category. Amell’s good looks helped him fit the bill, but I have to say his acting was just as good – nailing the his punch lines, as well as adding his own pectoral flair to his comedic charm.

Bella Thorn is hard to picture as the “mean girl” given her previous roles in Shake It Up and Blended, but I have to say, she is pretty good. She was mean, but in a funny way. There were times I couldn’t take her seriously, but that’s only because her whole premise as a “pre-famous-YouTube-sensation” is on point in reference to some of the personalities that we can find online today.

Overall, The DUFF is one you have to see. It’ll make you laugh, cringe and question whether or not you are a DUFF or have a DUFF. Either way, the moral of the story is, laugh and live life; enjoy the friends you have and throw away the labels, because tags come and go; there’s nothing ever ‘new’ that you can’t handle.

Star Rating: ★★★★

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