The DUFF
High school comedy is racy but unexpectedly insightful.
Parents say
Based on 31 reviews
Kids say
Based on 64 reviews
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The DUFF
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The DUFF is a funny, fascinating -- if quite racy -- examination of the American high school social hierarchy. Sexual themes permeate the movie; there's frank conversation about what types of people are attractive and what types aren't, especially when it comes to girls (the movie's title is short for "designated ugly fat friend"). Teen characters drink, fool around, talk about sex, and swear (including "d--k," "bitch," "s--t," and one "f--k"), and the humor and references can be crude (boys talk about "banging" girls, etc.). There's also a cruel incident of cyberbullying and lots of product placement. Stereotypes typical of high school movies are somewhat upended (some popular characters are kind and sensitive, etc.), and the main character learns that it's important to define yourself rather than letting others label you, but there's also an underlying theme about having to change who you are to succeed in romance.
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What's the Story?
Bianca (Mae Whitman) just found out she's THE DUFF -- aka "the designated ugly fat friend" -- thanks to her childhood pal/next-door-neighbor, Wesley (Robbie Amell), who's one of the most popular athletes at their high school. Determined to catch the eye of her crush, Bianca makes a plan to barter tutoring for Wesley's very specific mentorship in the art of flirting. But plenty of other people at school think that DUFFs should know their place ... and that place is never next to a popular football player.
Is It Any Good?
The DUFF is smart, sassy, and spirited -- exactly what you'd want in a coming-of-age high school movie (as long as you're OK with some crude, racy humor/talk). It also undermines some typical teen-movie stereotypes: The popular girls can be writers and hackers, the football player is kind and sensitive, and the object of a main character's obsession is the sweet, sensitive guitar-playing boy. For this alone The DUFF is a worthy addition to the high school movie canon. Add to that a funny script, an interesting premise, and winning actors, and you have the makings of a teen fave.
Not that the movie doesn't have any problems. For starters, though its main message -- don't let others define who you are -- is empowering to all types of women, it still supposes that you can win the heart of your crush partly by making him see that even if you're not (stereto)typically cute, you're a beauty anyway, inside and out. Why do the externals always need to be part of the equation? Also, parents are still caricatures, as is typical for this genre. Nonetheless, it's lots of fun to watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The DUFF depicts cliques and stereotypes. Is it similar to other teen movies in that regard or different? Do the characters feel realistic? Do you think they're intended to?
The movie is pretty candid and coarse about what kind of kids are DUFFs. Is that excusable, given the uplifting message at the end of the film? Do you think labels like that are used the same way in real life? What are the consequences of that kind of thinking?
How does The DUFF differ from previous high school movies? Are there cliches? Improvements? What messages do movies in this genre tend to have in common? Are there worthwhile takeaways despite themes about changing yourself to get the guy or girl?
How does the movie handle the topic of cyberbullying? Do you think the incident that takes place is realistic? Teens: How would you and your friends handle something similar in real life?
Movie Details
- In theaters: February 20, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: June 9, 2015
- Cast: Bella Thorne, Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell
- Director: Ari Sandel
- Studio: Lionsgate
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Book Characters, Friendship, High School
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: crude and sexual material throughout, some language and teen partying
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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