Producer: Susan Cartsonis McG and Mary Viola
Director: Ari Sandel
Star Cast: Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca Santos, Skyler Samels, Romany Malco, Ken Jeong, Allison Jenny, Chris Wylde, Mahaley Manning, Nick Eversman, Seth Mariwether, Gabriella Fraille, Danielle Lyn, David Gridley and Brian Dewar McNamara
Genre: Romantic Teen Comedy
Verdict: Good

Debutante director Ari Sandel’s, known more for his short film West Bank Story and a docu drama on Wild West Show named 30 Days & 30 Nights, ‘The Duff’ is a hilarious albeit a thought provoking tale of a girl nicknamed as DUFF which stands for a “designated ugly fat friend” which is bound to get lapped up by a teenie bopper crowd.

Plot: Bianca (Mae Whitman) 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 (Skyler Samuels & Bianca Santos). Now, despite the words of caution from her favourite teacher (Ken Jeong), she puts aside the potential distraction of her crush, Toby (Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (Robbie Amell), 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 (Bella Thorne) and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone’s DUFF.

Aces: It depicts a truest picture of high school students intertwined with their romantic interludes and of course the most outstanding performances by its principal cast, aided and abetted by a cavalcade of some fresh talents.

Minuses: Sometimes the chemistry between the actors is missing and the movie tends to go overboard with ‘The Duff’ business.
Last Word: Missing ‘The Duff’ will be like missing a heart warming movie. Period!