Bianca is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as 'The DUFF' (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her prettier, more popular friends. Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher, she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby, and enlists Wesley, a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself. To save her senior year from turning into a total disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school's ruthless label maker Madison and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone's DUFF.
Box Office
Budget:
$8,500,000 (estimated)
Opening Weekend:
$10,809,149 (USA) (20 February 2015)
Gross:
$34,017,854 (USA) (8 May 2015)
Movie Review
There are films which are not suitable for all age groups and The DUFF is one perfect example.
The base is set about a clumsy teen (Whitman) who thinks she is lucky to have two hotties (Santos & Samuels) as her friends in college. When she comes to know, from a good friend (Amell), that she is, in fact, designated an ugly and fat friend (abbrev. DUFF) of the group, she begins introspecting and changing her ways.
You will detect how the story is outlined and if you are smart, chances are that you will see where and how the story is going to that cliché reservoir where all such films (read teen comedies) go. The preachy topic of being yourself when it comes to bullies at college, especially at this age of viral videos, is expressive, mostly because it is said with a tinge of humor.
Although, one will understand that the plot keeps its distance from the reality, where in the school the teachers are the weirder ones. The soundtrack is complementing and so is the colorful setup. All said and done, the highly predictive climax just makes the whole film look like it dug its own grave with its own teeth.
BOTTOM LINE: The DUFF is an effortless affair with doses of good comedy that will crack you up, even if you are not between 12 and 18 years of age, the group to whom it is actually intended.
VERDICT: Below Average.
Can be watched with a typical Indian family? NO
Vulgarity/Profanity: Mediocre
Director Lee Toland Krieger wisely speeds through the scientific mumbo-jumbo, treating it as the least-interesting aspect of this tale. Instead, he focuses on the relationship fallout of Adaline's predicament. It's a disarmingly affecting film, and very sad at points. A rumination on loneliness. Cinematically, Krieger serves up numerous arching, overhead shots and slow-motion sequences. This coupled with the various time periods tackled gives the picture a buoyant sense of scope.
Particularly memorable in this is Harrison Ford. After stiff and stagey efforts in movies such as "42," Ford delivers a beautifully conflicted performance as a man trying to reconcile his past.
Highly recommended.