Movie Review: The Duff

Title The DUFF
Release Date 20th of February 2015
Directed By Ari Sandel
Duration 101 minutes 
Cast Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca Santos, Skyler Samuels
Genre Comedy 
PG -13

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So I just watched The DUFF, I wasn't really expecting much and besides knowing what a DUFF was I had no knowledge of the story. Ohmygod, I loved it, it was amazeballs.

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 favorite 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.


I guess the plot is a little cheesy, but it really brought some serious social issues to light. High school is full of labels and people trying to 'belong'. And it was really interesting to see Bianca, the main character, go trough the different stages this ignites. Also cyber life was a really important factor in the film, this was very interesting to see because this is a very big aspect of our daily lives. 


The story was fun to watch, it was light but it still made you think. I really liked the fact that current social issues were being discussed in a really funny way. The acting was also great, the performances were snappy and bright and they really spiced up the movie. Mae Whitman did an amazing job and played the character of a frumpy but proud geek very well. 


I really loved the movie and will certainly be reading the book it was based of by Kody Keplinger. The movie is funny but with enough cometary about teen life to make it stand out. I would recommend this to anyone who has been or is in high school and loves a good laugh.


My Rating: 4,5

Movie Review: Still Alice

Title Still Alice

Release December 5th 2014

Directed by Wash Westmoreland, Richard Glatzer

Duration 101 minutes

Cast Julianne Moore, Kristen Steward, Alec Baldwin, Kate Bosworth, Hunter Parrish

Genre Drama

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My mother is a nurse who works with Alzheimer patients. She really wanted to go see the movie and after seeing the trailer I was really intrigued. I am glad I went to see it because it changed the way I am able to relate to patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Dr. Alice Howland is a highly intelligent woman, she teaches at Colombia, has released several textbooks and lectures all over the world. She is also happily married to her husband Dr. John Howland, and together they have 3 children. Alice has just turned 50 when her memory becomes strained, worried she consults a neurologist who diagnoses her with Early-Onset Familial Alzheimer disease. Fast deteriorating Alice finds her family bonds painstakingly tested. This is a heart wrenching, inspiring and quite frightening story about a woman trying to hold onto who she once was.

The movie was remarkable. It gave great insight into how Alzheimer patients deal with their disease and how we sometimes forget that they to are people who have previously lived a full life. I also found it very frightening to see how each time little bits of who Alice was gets ripped away. The most inspiring part of the movie I found was a speech Alice gave at an Alzheimer’s conference, I thought it gave great insight into how Alzheimer's patients feel, and experience their disease.

I was kind of disappointed about two things. First I found the character Dr. John Howland extremely disappointing. It was heartbreaking that after a great marriage he wasn't able to stand with his wife in her time of need. He kept leaving on trips and burying himself in tons of work. Even though it was disappointing it is probably how more people deal with a loved one having Alzheimer's disease, they can't or don't want to understand. What I also found quite disappointing was the ending, I won't spoil too much about it but I would have liked a more definite ending. But despite my disappointment at the open ending it was still quite beautiful.

Overall I thought it was a great story, incredibly moving. Also brilliantly played by Julianne Moore, you were literally able to see the light slowly fade from her eyes. I would recommend it to anyone who is touched by Alzheimer's personally or if you like a touch of bitter-sweetness to the movies you watch.

Based on the novel: Still Alice by Lisa Genova