Caution: SPOILERS AHEAD! "The DUFF" is a teen comedy film about Bianca, a senior who learns her place in the high school hierarchy as the Designated Ugly Fat Friend and how she fights back by enlisting the help of her neighbour/dickhead Wesley Rush. The movie script was adapted from the young adult novel of the same name, written by the then 17 year-old Kody Keplinger. This movie has recently been compared to the likes of "Mean Girls" and even "Sixteen Candles," but I believe it has earned its own place in movie history. It is unlike any other movie and it set the pace for what a teen comedy should entail. If you haven't seen it already and don't want spoilers, don't read this, but seriously, what are you waiting for? Go watch it!
It would be darn near impossible to write a teen movie these days and not include some aspect of social media. "The Duff" mentions many popular sites such as tumblr and Instagram; and a not-so-in-touch principal even mentions Hulu. The presence of social media may seem to make it hard for this movie to be put in the classic category, but it simply illuminates the power teens have today, whether that be positive or negative. This movie will last the test of time because it is an accurate description of how teenagers behaved in 2015. My kids will one day watch this movie and will probably laugh at the out-dated technology, just like I love seeing clips of Zack's huge box phone in "Saved by the Bell." The movie also shows the downsides of social media and how one uploaded video can bring lives crashing down. After the school's notorious mean girl Madison posts an extremely unflattering video of Bianca she lets the negative comments roll off her back and uses them to motivate her to let positivity flow through her own writing and tries to inspire others who feel diminished and humiliated in high school...so most people.
Wesley is introduced as the classic stupid jock who can, and has, been with most every girl in the school, except the one who hates him, his neighbour Bianca. Wes initially enlightens Bianca as to her position in the friend group as the DUFF and does not understand why that would upset her. Becoming fed up with being the approachable one Bianca decides to change it up and joins forces with Wes to land her crush, Toby. As the partnership continues the two become much more than neighbours and they create a friendship that is tested when Madison is upset with her ex-boyfriend hanging out with a DUFF. SPOILER: their friendship eventually leads to romantic feelings that they are both confused about. The chemistry between these two actors could be felt in the movie theatre not only when things get steamy, but when they are discussing simple stuff like their crap parents. Robbie Amell and Mae Whitman were made to act together and if they do not star opposite one another again the world will be missing out on a great partnership.
P.S. What is their ship name? Wianca? Besley? They both kinda sound stupid...
This movie is made to be a comedy, that much is clear, but the amazing screenplay that was adpated by Josh A. Cagan took the laughter to a whole new level. "The DUFF" was full of one-liners that will have you rolling on the floor and wanting to try to work them into every day conversation. I have only seen the film once and I have told my friends, "don't you dare be creeping on my Pin-terest page" about a hundred times. With Mae Whitman leading the charge each line comes across as original and hilariously driven by her sarcastic wit. The comedy throughout this film is not cheap, but so richly intelligent. There are a few cheesy lines mostly put in by Robbie Amell's character, such as "a midget jerking off," that are presented at random times that don't really make sense, but seem to fit in with ease. The laughter is not written for a specific age group, but for everyone who has ever had a bad day because of some jerk and wished they could have come back with a zinger. After this movie that will be an issue no more.
I cannot say enough about Mae Whitman's amazing work throughout this movie! Whitman owned this movie and not only made us laugh, but often brought us to tears with her touching performance. Many people criticized the movie casting Whitman as Bianca/the DUFF because she is clearly neither fat nor ugly, but that is the whole point of the movie! Being the DUFF has no power unless you let it takeover your life. Too often in today's society we are comparing ourselves to our friends, which is exactly how the DUFF term came to be. It is not saying that you are fat or ugly, but that you just aren't as good as someone else because of one specific characteristic. Being human is a lot more than one particular thing, whether it be your beauty, intelligence, or even your interests. Whitman gives an amazing performance that shows us everyone can be insecure and it is how you deal with those insecurities that make you who you are. The pain and joy are felt throughout Bianca's journey due to Whitman's stunning performance. You can let the negative comments bring you down, or you can let the haters hate and you can just keep doing you.
"The DUFF" is so much more than just a teen comedy. I may have been a little too excited when I watched this movie, and I may or may not have gasped a little too loudly the first time Wes kisses Bianca. The romantic moments were not the only ones to tug at my heart strings. Bianca's face when she learns everyone has seen the embarrassing video of her after Madison uploads it online is gut-wrenching and made me want to reach into the screen and give her a hug, and I'm not a hugger! The actual video itself made me have to cover my face and peak through my fingers because I could feel the embarrassment. Those emotions will last a lifetime and will feel real every time the movie is played. The entire cast gave unbelievable performances and put me right back into high school and those feelings of not being good enough. Insecurities will chase us around no matter how long we are out of high school, but the only thing we can do is accept that we are weirdos and own it. I know I do that everyday. The only person we can be is ourselves, and "The DUFF" showed us that that person is pretty great, no matter what others think. This message is universal and was relevant in the 1980s and will still be relevant thirty years from now.
