‘The DUFF (2015)’: YA Lit Adaptation Inspires Laughs and Standing Up for Yourself

---

The “it” thing at the box office seems to be adapting young adult literature. Between that and the domination of superheroes, I’m not sure much of anything else nets a fighting chance. One of the most recently adapted features is based off a popular book that teaches a surprisingly valuable lesson, but in the process has to wade through some clutter that strips away important pieces of the good. the duff

The DUFF (2015) Film Review

With her two best friends at her side, high school isn’t such a bad place for Bianca (Mae Whitman). She’s got friendships that date back to her childhood and though they’re all very different, the girls aren’t afraid to let their individual personalities shine. Bianca needs that sounding board with a mother who turned her divorce into a money-making, national book and the tour that follows. But Bianca’s well-ordered world is about to change. A party invitation issued by the most popular girl (Bella Thorne) in school brings her face-to-face with her longtime neighbor (Robbie Amell), who inadvertently tells her something she doesn’t know with one very cruel acronym. Wesley enlightens her with the news that Bianca is, in fact, a “DUFF” (Designated Ugly Fat Friend).  

Feeling betrayed and left out of the loop, Bianca severs ties with her friends and retains what little dignity she thought she possessed. Even if that means she has to go to Wesley. You see, she wants to have her “DUFF” status reversed… only things get a whole lot worse before they get better. 

Keeping with my tradition of informing whether or not I’ve read the book, the answer is, no. With its up-and-coming cast and cute promotional material, early on I decided The Duff is something I’d eventually see. That said, I don’t know how well this adapted to screen, but have read or been told by fellow book bloggers, the script is as good as the source material.  

FILM REVIEW | SEE A SUPER FUN ROAD TRIP ROMANCE IN ‘OVERNIGHT DELIVERY’

The shining moments of the script is many, including some witty banter between its fantastically good cast (which we’ll get into later on). What overshadows this is one particularly bad “crude” sequence. We “got” the point long before the writers cut the gag. But seriously, I think that’s really the only real grudge I’d have against the film. For a lighthearted teen comedy, this is one of the better ones (speaking to its story). This story is actually, sincere. It makes its point through the characters and the decisions they make even in adversity. Reflections of a Cinderella subject might crop up during the story, but the story doesn’t use the typical tropes. In fact, in some ways, The Duff improves on the idea of transformation and makes the story stronger.

Saying this is going to spoil the story, but commenting on it feels right since it’s the prism I like best about the film. The progression of Bianca’s “change” is the most natural I’ve encountered in a young adult film – or any for that matter. She doesn’t change who she is, so much as learn to stand up for who she is. Instead of an outward transformation, she takes what she learns and funnels that into the best pieces of the core person she already knows she is and can be. That type of writing is significant and rare. If we can absorb any lessons from the film, it’d be that. We shouldn’t let anyone bully us into becoming the “perfect” something if that’s not who we are. 

‘The DUFF (2015)’: YA Lit Adaptation Inspires Laughs and Standing Up for Yourself #Moviearchives #GoodMovies Share on X

The cast has been around for a while though they aren’t as popular to the big screen. Mae (who I remember from way back when in the TV Christmas movie, Season for Miracles) is fantastic as Bianca. A mix of insecure (who isn’t?!) and sass, she’s quite endearing, while Robbie plays the perfect foil for her insecurities. Where she lets gossips get to her, Wesley is the popular all-American kid who is nothing doing in the self-doubting department. The fabulous banter the script lays out is terrific and the two people engaging in said banter? They deliver it with the kind of aplomb we needed for The Duff. There’s a natural “pull” to their chemistry that makes the film undeniably cute.  

A unique combination of cute and sassy, The Duff isn’t afraid to be vulnerable without losing its “edge” of confidence. There’s a great story, even if it is hidden. Fans of She’s the Man or really, any other film in this genre are sure to like this film. It opened to decently complimentary reviews and I can see why. Whatever its motive, the story is one many of us will relate to. We can let our insecurities rule us, and when they’re put on display for everyone around us to see, we’re in danger of retreating further into that approach. Fortunately, Bianca was wise enough to use her humiliation for good.  

Content: there is plenty of stereotypical content involving teenagers. There’s an awkward sequence involving Bianca and a store mannequin [using the mannequin’s arms to move around her breasts and other suggestive movement] is caught on video, and alter used. There’s a “slapstick” dream scene that is a kind of “imagined” scene from a porn film; a girl on a bed and a man in his underwear delivering pizza. References to kissing and “hooking up” play a role at various points. There is some language – one f-word, h*ll, etc. – and crude humor, coupled with thematic elements regarding bullying. The film is PG-13.