The Duff

So, let's just say to start off that I was very hesitant of this film.

Basically we have an all round new take on the genre of teen film. In The Duff, our protagonist isn't popular but is known by her peers... perhaps maybe for negative reasons - e.g. her two best friends being somewhat semi-popular. Yeah, to look at its trailer, you would say that this take on the whole underdog teen flick is up to a more developed level. It seems more up-to-date, and with a less icky romantic storyline tied in with y'know 'always taking the queen bee bitch down a peg or two!'
The main thing I was hesitant about, was purely whether or not the outlining message may have come across as taking down other girls in order for our protagonist to feel better. Y'know the all out 'Girl War'.
However, no.
Thankfully we get no revenge, just a nice main character feeling sorry for her enemy.

This was hard to pay attention to due to the quality of what I could salvage from the internet. Please if you have children, young ones... for the love of god do not bring them to the cinema. Why would anyone in their right mind bring a child younger than 15-16 to a film like this. Have some respect for the faithful few who film from a painful distance. The swearing is a little too high in years for small ears.

The DUFF stands for Designated Ugly Fat Friend (fyi). So in the film fitting to the subject it surrounds, dungaree wearing, dark eyed, horror/zombie film loving protagonist - Bianca, played by Mae Whitman, is unfortunately informed that she is in fact a Duff.
What I first thought from this was that the term of Duff would only be directed towards females in this film, however you will be pleasantly surprised when Bianca names male peers as Duffs occasionally.
Heads up thought, Bianca is neither fat or ugly. So technically within any group of friends, apparently if you're not being erotically dreamed about by greasy haired teenage boys with a permanent boner, you've gotta turn out to be a Duff. The Duff shows how incredibly degrading the male characters are towards Bianca, however the girls do get their fair share of kicking her when she's down.

So, we've got a teen comedy which puts the main character (a young white girl) into turmoil attempting to 'un-Duff ' herself. Which seems to be a move most people (including myself) would at least make a stab at. She enlists the help of her childhood friend and next door neighbour - Wesley (Robbie Amell). He, being star footbal payer, all round hunk with the ladies and the on again off again boyfriend of arch enemy, agrees to help Bianca in exchange for aid with his falling Chemistry grade. We've all been there, am I right friends?
... Well unless you're my boyfriend, Chemistry magician he is indeed.

This brings to mind that are you regarded a Duff if you defend your friend away from the kind of people you know they don't want to waste their time on? I mean, are you considered instantly an ugly person for saving your friend the time, strength, effort or indeed confidence to tell some degenerate where to stick it... well, to the petty people of this movie... yes.

The idea of a Duff is supported by both boys and girls in this storyline. We are introduced to the enemy, and I will hand it to the writer that this character is the ultimate exaggeration of your typical highschool 'mean girl'. The enemy comes in disguise as the character - Madison played by Bella Thorne. The concept of Cyber-Bullying comes into play around the middle of the film, when Madison gets a hold of generally embarrassing footage of Bianca fooling around trying to make Wesley laugh. The clip gets edited for comic effect and therefore goes viral around the school. There was an air of this being a really really hurtful part of the film, as we could see how badly it got to Bianca and I was afraid for a minute that we may have ended up in Disney Channel specially made film area. 

But fear not, it goes back up tot he funny chart with the help of Ken Jeong (The Hangover/Community) in his very very very very small role. I do like Ken Jeong by the way. It seems that he's been in enough films, good and bad, for no one to take a leap at criticising his acting. Ken Jeong plays a teacher in The Duff, and let me tell you that he is certainly just placed there for comic relief. 

Again, many comedic aspects flow from Romany Malco (The 40 Year Old Virgin) when playing the Principle. Throughout the film it's great to see both Malco and Jeong acting side by side within most scenes which only feature the pair of them. 

In the middle of this film I thought back to my earlier fears before watching it of - "Am I a Duff?" *Insert plenty of worried faces for dramatic tension*
But, here's the thing with this film... by the end of it, you're not happy nor sad to be regarded as a Duff. You're simply taught not to care what people think of you. Which I found to be a rather nice final message to its audience, especially at the age range of the girls and boys who will go to see this. I knew there would be a positive vibe at the end, I mean its a chickflick. There's no reason for a sad ending within a teen Comedy/Romance.
As a footnote, there really does need to have more films aimed at young teenagers, both male and female with this sort of message. Film is only one of the many forms of art/media which can really help form a better image for what younger generations need to be concerned about. And that image is solely being happy with themselves.

Funny point when Bianca is looking through her old photos and finds a Halloween past costume - "Why was I Bosley, there were three angels" When watching I related to this hard, as I had war flashbacks to my younger self being insistent of having to dress up as a king... not a queen. What was wrong with being a queen little Sarah?!? 

Anyway whenever I'm watching Allison Janney (who does a good job of playing Bianca's mother), I hardly feel the need to complain, because if you're familiar with the films and television shows she appears in.... hell the earth's a better place all round. Watch out within The Duff for a really nice reference to the five stages of depression using The Simpsons. However, I feel that she isn't shown enough. I think that is my only thing wrong with this film overall, and that's just because I am a selfish Janney fanatic who just appreciates her work.

...Keep a look out for all the god damn product placement people!

A very important subject, which is discussed in and out of many Film Studies lectures around the planet. (Disclaimer - not actually that important, just a great way of wasting the fifteen minutes at the end of each lecture).
*More war flashbacks begin a reel in my head*

Well, to end I will state this, if you are going to watch The Duff at least watch it in the cinema, or wait until it is on DVD. It seems a nice film for anyone to see really. Very educational to closed-minded people. 

If you're looking for something to laugh at when you're desperate to have a Friday night in, then this is ideal to just stick on and relax.

...God I sound like a middle aged mum preparing her tween's first sleepover.
Oh the blog posts I've read in past on that subject...
Where is my mind....