Bianca (Whitman) is smart, funny, and has two pretty best friends. Life doesn’t seem too bad until she discovers that she is a DUFF – the designated, ugly, fat friend that popular kids have. While her neighbour and childhood friend Wes (Amell) assures her that it doesn’t actually mean she is fat and ugly, just that she is the less desirable, more approachable one in comparison to her pals, Bianca is horrified by the label especially when it looks like it may ruin her chances with crush Toby (Nick Eversman).
This is a likeable teen comedy that ticks all the right boxes – it’s got a cool, sassy lead in Whitman, a be-comfortable-with-who-you-are theme, a fun supporting cast for the grown up roles (Allison Janney is Bianca’s mum, Ken Jeong his usual over-the-top self as teacher Mr Arthur) and an enjoyably mean queen bee in Thorne’s Madison. While it’s not as sharp, perhaps, as Easy A or Pretty In Pink, there are some nice digs at how modern technology has made being a school kid even worse (would you want your most embarrassing moments at school filmed and then posted to the world?) that are bound to horrify parents and make all teens nod knowingly.
Is The DUFF suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
None.
Do note that this is a teen comedy so does have some adult themes.
If you like this, why not try: Mean Girls, Easy A, Pretty In Pink, She's All That, Heathers,