I had an empty evening and that means, with a multiplex theater right around the corner from my home, a spontaneous visit to a movie. Truth be told, I wanted to sample "Fifty Shades of Gray," mainly because I knew it would give me something hilarious to write here on these virtual pages.
Er, sold out. A tiny part of me was relieved. I knew that I'd probably be the only guy in the theater anyway.
So, I look up at the time clock to see what else is starting...well...right now. I see something called "The Duff." Hmmm. I had no clue what this was. I hoped that maybe it was a documentary about some actor named Howard who was married to Ida Lupino.
Er, no. In 2015, you check out a film beforehand by calling up on your phone either the Moviefone app. Or IMDB. Okay, "The Duff" is getting lots of thumbs up. Time to get my large Coke Zero and settle down.
And, about two hours later, I was in a total state of shock. At just how good "The Duff" was.
Let's face it. You look at the poster above and you figure this is just your standard teenage romantic comedy. What the hell would I be doing there? And, yep, there were a lot of giggly teenage girls in the theater. But, when you get right down to it, "The Duff" is a movie with sensibilities that are way over the head of the 13-to-17-year-old pimply set. Indeed, it will register with anybody who went to high school and had...well...a difficult time.
Okay, how many hands do I see raised? And, yes, one of them would be mine. Because I don't care if you went to high school in 2015 or 1955. You will see things in this film that will bring back every drop of angst you had in junior year chemistry.
What the heck is a duff anyway? It stands for "Designated Ugly Fat Friend." I don't know if this is real or conjured up by an inventive script writer, but, according to this movie, everybody is either a duff. Or friends with one. And that goes for both boys and girls. When you grow up and start going to bars and mixers, I guess a duff is the equivalent of a wingman. Somebody designed to help that better looking friend connect with a special someone.
Yeah, we've all been there. And that's why this film is so special.
In this story, Mae Whitman is Bianca, the shlumpy friend of two high school knockouts. She's smart and wise and never getting the guy. She's grown up next door to the not-so-smart school jock named Wesley and he's also apparently a catch. Or so giggled the girls behind me every time there was a scene with his shirt off. But Bianca has her designs on some nerdy musician and trades services with Wesley. He'll teach her how to get a date with the geek and she'll help him pass chemistry so he can stay on the football squad.
Okay, yes, this sounds like a plot straight out of "The Brady Bunch." But, there's a difference. These kids are smart and saavy and nothing like the goofy teenagers you may have seen in seven dozen other films with the same plot. And it develops in directions you never ever expect. I mean, these kids are living in 2015 where you text and unfriend and unfollow and coordinate your lives around every social media portal there is. As a result, "The Duff" has something to say that will ring true with every age group imaginable.
Sure, there are silly moments. All the actors in the cast are about ten years older than the high school character they play. And, of course, you know the ending of the film two hours before you even park your car in the garage. But, they're all top notch with Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell (Wesley), and the always welcome Allison Janney as Bianca's mom as standouts.
God, high school can be cruel. But why should today be any different than before? So, when "Fifty Shades of Grey" is sold out, scurry over to the screen next door and relive it all with "The Duff." Or don't even wait for Grey to be sold out.
You'll be happy you did. And, thinking back to high school days, perhaps a little sad all over again.
LEN'S RATING: Three stars.
Dinner last night: Tortellini and salad.
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