Review of The DUFF (2015) by Nicole L — 23 Jun 2015

The Duff follows in the tradition of your typical high school clique-romance movies (we've seen these again and again since the 80's). So what more could a film like this achieve? Not a hell of a lot, but it sure makes an appreciated effort to do its own sort of thing.

First off, being set in 2015 where the dynamic of teens is social media and the digital age, which the film surprisingly pokes fun at to a minor degree, but second of all inventing new cliques like the DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend).

I'll admit seeing the cliches of the losers and popular people seems almost out of place now since the cliques are unrealistically exaggerated (perhaps its not just this film, but just having seen this over the years too many times) However, the cast is fairly likeable especially Mae Whitman as Bianca and has a blast with what its given, even if it hits the predictable points and many of the cliches in the book.

The Duff stands on its own feet and focuses on being the best it can be, and it's respectable in that regard. It's silly fun, not something I'll remember, but it's nice to see films like these still around to keep the genre of high school dramas and comedies around.

They may always be fairly routine nowadays, but that's not to say they can still be a good time.