Synopsis
Bianca's universe turns upside down when she learns that her high school refers to her as a ‘DUFF' (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). Hoping to erase that label, she enlists the help of a charming jock and her favorite teacher. Together they'll face the school's mean girl and remind everyone that we are all someone's DUFF… and that's totally fine.
Your Movie Library
Cast
- Mae WhitmanBianca Piper
- Robbie AmellWesley Rush
- Bella ThorneMadison Morgan
- Skyler SamuelsJess Harris
- Bianca A. SantosCasey Cordero
- Romany MalcoPrincipal Buchanon
- Ken JeongMr. Arthur
- Chris WyldeMr. Fillmore
- Allison JanneyDottie Piper
- Seth MeriwetherA.J.
Recommendations
- 80
The Guardian
What’s terrific about The Duff is that Casey and Jessica may not have intentionally befriended the less attractive Bianca as a way to make themselves look better, but they don’t exactly deny that she serves that purpose. - 67
Entertainment Weekly
As misspent of an opportunity as The DUFF may be, it’s hard to completely dismiss a film that gives someone as talented as Whitman her long-overdue spotlight. - 63
Movie Nation
A snappy, sweet-spirited teen comedy about a smart girl who tries to fight high school labeling with wit and words. And the occasional punch. - 63
New York Post
Slightly radical in portraying high schoolers as human beings of normal niceness and intelligence. That means this winsome comedy is a little low in the stakes department, not to mention predictable, but it gets an “A” for charm. - 60
The Hollywood Reporter
More a middle-of-the-road rom-com than a teen-spirit sendup, the pic weaves its lighthearted mix of silly and serious with increasingly heavy-handed spiels on self-esteem. - 60
New York Daily News
Fortunately, the cast — featuring Allison Janney as Bianca’s scattered mom and Ken Jeong as her sympathetic mentor — is savvy and silly. Really, though, most of the credit goes to Whitman, who stands in, and stands up, for the DUFF in all of us. - 60
The Dissolve
For all its potential pitfalls, The DUFF manages to keep its head above water, thanks to Whitman, Amell, and a willingness to engage with teen-movie clichés in a relatively thoughtful way. - 50
Village Voice
There's freedom in facing the truth. There would be even more freedom in a heroine finishing the film in her favorite ugly overalls, but we haven't gotten there yet.
