'The DUFF' (2014) Falls Just Short of Teen Comedy Canonization
"You see us as you want to see us - in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain...and an athlete...a princess...and a criminal."
This now iconic voiceover quote from John Hughes's The Breakfast Club ties up the film's message in a neat little package: labels suck.
Pictured: Badboy Angst
It's fitting, then, that Ari Sandel's film, The DUFF, obliquely references The Breakfast Club in its opening lines, in which protagonist Bianca Piper (Mae Whitman) offhandedly points out that princesses can be on anti-depressants and jocks can play videogames. Today, the film tells us, everyone kinda exists in the middle of the Venn Diagram.
What a brave new world.
You tell 'em, Bender
The DUFF attempts to revamp The Breakfast Club's poignant take on labels, as well as the more comedic approaches of films like Mean Girls (2004) and Clueless (1995). The story follows Biana Piper as she is forced to confront her status as her friend group's "DUFF": the Designated Ugly Fat Friend. This DUFF, we are told, is used to make good-looking friends look even better. He or she is the approachable one, since, as heartthrob jock Wesley points out, "no one's trying to get in their pants." Biana, of course, doesn't take too kindly to this information, resulting in a 90-minute romp during which she teams up with Wesley to recreate her image and get rid of the DUFF for good.
"Points for creative acronyms?"
The film tries exhaustingly hard to become 21st century-relevant, like when Bianca is secretly filmed jokingly making out with a mannequin at the mall and finds herself the victim of cyberbullying that would put most angry YouTube commenters to shame.
However, where the film does go right can be summed up in two words: Mae Whitman.
God bless.
If you've seen Whitman in Arrested Development or on Parenthood, you'll know that she consistently delivers alt-girl sass with incredible comedic timing. She alone lifts The DUFF from direct-to-VOD quality to theatrical release. As Bianca, Whitman is both effortlessly confident, but still allows the audience insight into her character's vulnerabilities. Additionally, her comedic scenes, like the mannequin makeout clip, are laugh-out-loud funny, giving the film a comedic edge lacking in Whitman's co-stars, including Bella Thorne, who plays mean girl Madison. (Of course her name is Madison--have you ever met a Madison you've liked?). Even with some often questionable writing and lackluster co-stars, Whitman manages to keep the film afloat.
She's one DUFF you'll be rooting for in no time.
I give this film 2.5/4 Mannequin Makeouts
