WBC: Book coming to movie this year - The DUFF

BabyRN2006 · January 2015

I read The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend for the WBC category for a book being made into a movie this year. The movie comes out next month. I ended up liking this more than I thought I would. I had it on my TBR list for ages but kept putting it off. When I heard it was being made into a movie I decided to give it a shot. I gave it 4 stars. I really liked Bianca and her friends and even though I didn't like him at first, Wesley quickly grew on me. I will see the movie (partially because I love Mae Whitman) but I will most likely wait until it is available to rent. The trailer seems different than the book though so I wonder how close it will be to the book.

Young_Love · January 2015

I have a lot of feelings about this movie.

CeeCeeSugaPie · January 2015

I really enjoyed this one too. Much more than I thought I would.

BabyRN2006 · January 2015

Young_Love said:

I have a lot of feelings about this movie.

@Young_Love Care to elaborate?

I haven't seen the previews since I read the book but from what I remember it didn't really seem very close to what I got from the book. Is this going to be one of those movies they ruin? This is why I will be waiting until I can rent it to watch.

Young_Love · January 2015

I just think there are a lot of teen girls out there who can really relate to the idea of feeling like the DUFF, and while I didn't think the book was perfect, I think it was a book girls who are underrepresented in YA fiction could look to and see themselves in it, which is great.

However, by making the movie and casting Mae Whitman as Bianca, I think it completely undoes all of that. Mae Whitman is thin and gorgeous, and no amount of messy hair and t-shirts will change that. So girls who might have seen themselves in the book or girls who might have had a chance to see themselves in the movie, will now see thin, beautiful Mae Whitman being called the DUFF and wondering what the hell that says about them.

Bianca's weight and appearance are never specifically mentioned in the book, and I know that was done intentionally, and I like that. But it left it open for movie people to say "well, she doesn't actually have to BE fat and ugly, she just thinks she is!" And that really does a huge disservice to the girls who saw themselves in this character, IMO.

I've actually heard the movie is really smart and funny, but I don't know. It bugs me.

CeeCeeSugaPie · January 2015

Well, darn. I hadn't really checked out the movie, but I totally see what you mean, @Young_Love. In my head, Bianca looks more like a younger Kat Dennings for some reason, who I think is gorgeous, but I could totally see some a-hole teenage boy saying otherwise just because she isn't stick-thin.

BabyRN2006 · January 2015

I honestly didn't even notice that they didn't mention Bianca's weight and appearance in the book. Most likely because I had seen the preview before I read it so I was already picturing MW in my head. I definitely see your point!

pinkybooklover09 · February 2015

Oh this book. THIS BOOK.

funkypineapple · February 2015

I LOVED this book and while I haven't read it since it first came out, I 100% have the same feelings about it that Jess does. Part of why I liked it was because I could relate to Bianca more than other characters but as soon as I saw Mae Whitman was cast I had a major WTF moment.

I mean, just going off the title of the book it made me wonder if it was opposite day. If she's supposed to be a DUFF then I'd hate to see what I'd be called.

#-o

CTDec03Bride · February 2015

I just read this yesterday. Loved it!

WBC: Book coming to movie this year - The DUFF

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