#Review: The DUFF

February 18, 2015March 1, 2015 thextramile film Review, Mae Whitman, review, Robbie Amell, The Duff

_N8A9627.NEF — Robbie Amell and Mae Whitman

You either know one. You have one. Or You are one. THE DUFF which stands for the `Designated Ugly Fat Friend` opens up the social divisions that are portrayed in High School. The film empowers the social groups that all high schools have like the Jocks, the Populars, The Nerds, etc in an honest but humorous way. Admit it, we all had a time where we felt like someone’s DUFF. There will always be someone prettier, and smarter than you.

In the film, Bianca Piper (Mae Whitman) is an awkward overachiever trying to get through her senior year of high school with her two best friends Jess (Skyler Samuels) and Casey (Bianca A. Santos), who are complete opposites and happen to be beautiful and popular. Bianca never thought about her place in the social hierarchy until her handsome, popular neighbor Wesley (Robbie Amell) informs her that she is The DUFF of her social group.

_N8A4266.NEF — Skyler Samuels, Bianca A. Santos and Mae Whitman

Bianca realizes how much this starts to bother her and she asks Wesley to break out of the DUFF label. Unlike most films, where the girl is giving advice to the guy, we see the roles reverse and the popular football player Wesley, is helping honor student Bianca. Of course like every good movie, there is a mean girl who’s out there to humiliate and bully anyone who doesn’t fit the popular group. In this case, it is Wesley’s girl Madison (Bella Thorne) who uses social media to destroy Bianca’s reputation completely. Social media has a huge impact on cyber bullying these days, and the film does a perfect job portraying that harsh truth while adding a humorous twist.

_N8A7304.NEF — Mae Whitman and Bella Thorne

Everything about this film is honest. The DUFF potrays the versions of high school that we are all familiar with but also telling people it’s okay to be comfortable in your own skin.

The special cast also include Bianca‘s mother (Allison Janney) and her sympathetic teacher (Ken Jeong). But overall, it is Mae Whitman who takes the spotlight in this movie. We got her to thank for bringing out the DUFF in all of us.

eOne Films releases The DUFF on Friday, February 20, 2015

(Photo Courtesy of eOne Films)