
Just around the time ‘The DUFF’ came out, Keplinger released a companion novel that is set in the same universe. But the film gets the lesson across decently well. Keplinger’s book is less cliched and more meaningful, portraying high-school in a realistic manner. The film takes several liberties from the text it is based on. In the end, the characters realise that anyone can be the DUFF, from Bianca to the mean girl, Madison, as everyone has something they don’t have. Unlike most of the films in the genre, the film is oddly empowering because of the refreshing way in which it deals with female friendships, and the way Bianca embraces who she is. But in the process ends up being both honest and quietly subversive as it deals with the issues of physical perceptions, self-doubt, teenage insecurities and cyberbullying. The film hits all the high-school cliches from makeover to mean girls, and of course, ends with the prom. She, then, set out on a mission to un-DUFF herself, with the help of her neighbour, former best friend, and jock, Wesley Rush. Filled with self-doubt and believing that her friends hang out with her because of this, she unfriends them. ‘The DUFF’ centres around Bianca Piper, an intelligent and opinionated high-school senior who has a rude awakening when she suddenly learns she is the DUFF in her friend group.


Here’s everything we know about the potential sequel to ‘The DUFF’. Though there have been no talks, it could still be a possibility given Keplinger’s other novel set in the same universe. This was five years ago, and fans wonder if there will be a sequel. It also received generally positive reviews from the critics. The film was a commercial success, grossing $43.5 million, against a budget of $8.5 million. ‘The DUFF’ is based on a novel of the same name by Kody Keplinger, who wrote it when she was herself an 18-year-old high school senior. This is precisely what makes it a fine addition to the genre, despite it telling the same old story. It is hilariously honest and exists in the contradiction of being both cliched and fresh. The film offers a fresh, postmodern twist to the genre, as it becomes both subtly subversive and self-aware, while casually giving a nod to John Hughes’ high-school classics. But of course, life, as is usually the case in high-school, has other plans.

In our case it’s Bianca, a high school senior, enjoying her final year with best friends, Jess and Casey. Every group of popular kids has that one kid who is not.
