Mini Movie Review: The DUFF (I May Have Compared it to the Book A Few Times...)

I am extremely picky when it comes to the movies I watch - there simply isn't enough time in the world to watch movies that don't interest you - but ever since I first saw the trailer of The DUFF, I just couldn't shake the thought of it. First there was the fact that I knew of some of the actors: Bella Thorne from Shake it Up, Bianca A. Santos from Happyland, and Robbie Amell from a ton of different things. Then there was the fact that the movie was based on a book, which obviously makes it that much better. I got myself so excited for this movie that I read the book by Kody Keplinger in less than a day, and then watched the trailer and several movie snippets repeatedly until the day I finally watched the movie. The book, I had problems with, but the movie was just what I needed.

If I had to describe the film in one word, it would definitely be adorkable. It's nowhere near as serious as the book, and yet at the same time, it incorporates problems with today's society, as well as the idea of body image and self-esteem. The best part is that there's an entire layer of cuteness to top it all off! I feel like I haven't watched a straight-out romantic film forever (as in no dystopias or supernatural aspects or saving the world issues), so this was a very pleasant, and even refreshing, viewing. I had to wait about three weeks after The DUFF came out to watch it, so I was über excited for it by the time I finally got the chance to immerse myself in the crazy world of DUFFs.

What I liked best about the movie is probably how well Wesley and Bianca were together. They were complete opposites, and yet, when they were together, they became more relaxed, and yes, mind-blowingly adorable. You could look at Wes and Bianca's face, and literally see them falling in love. I swooned guys, I really did. It was also really nice how the movie differed pretty significantly from the book, especially as it was more PG-13 than the novel, which I appreciated, since that was one of the aspects I disliked about the book. This movie took the absolute worst parts of the book, and then either eliminated them or changed them completely. I loved it!

True, nothing stuck out significantly in the movie, and it may have taken cliché to a whole new level, but sometimes you're just in the mood for the stuff, and everything works out perfectly. After taking my last and hardest final exam the day I watched The DUFF, I was most assuredly in the mood for a light-hearted, heart-warming film such as this one. It's a delightful movie that doesn't disappoint, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is on the lookout for a bit of immature fun. Also, fans of the book should try on the movie for size; while the basic plot is the same, the significant changes scattered throughout will keep you on your toes (in a good way!).

Movie Synopsis: Frumpy high-school senior Bianca (Mae Whitman) has a rude awakening when she learns that her classmates secretly know her as the DUFF -- designated ugly fat friend -- to her prettier and more popular pals. Desperate to reinvent herself, Bianca enlists the aid of Wesley (Robbie Amell), a charming jock. In order to save her senior year from becoming a complete disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow a judgmental student (Bella Thorne) and revolutionize the school's social order.

Source: Watched the movie in the theater.

Movie: The DUFF

Release Date: February 20, 2015

Director: Ari Sandel

Running Time: 110 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13

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Exactly How Bad Was Fifty Shades of Grey The Movie? Worse Than You Thought.

Now before you all yell at me for that title and start accusing me of being biased or being too young to understand the movie, let me just say I read the book. Sure, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading it, as the blurb reveals absolutely NOTHING out of the usual, but I still read it. Actually, I read the whole series. In tenth grade. So I like to think I'm not too immature to give this movie a fair rating. Also, I thought the series was amazing(ish), especially the first book. Yeah, the whole BDSM thing was new to me, but the relationship between Ana and Christian, as well as their character development throughout the series - and add to that the fact that Ana goes after what she wants, but at the same time isn't afraid to say no - made the whole thing a unique experience, and something I wasn't about to regret. In fact, I had pretty high expectations for this movie, especially after seeing the trailer. Plus, the fact that Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) played Graham in Once Upon A Time was another aspect that had me shaking off any doubts and choosing to go watch the movie. But yeah, despite all that, it was still a huge disappointment. And really weird (which is to be expected, I suppose).

I was pretty much raving to everyone I knew about how much I wanted to watch this film, and finally, last Tuesday, I finally got the chance to watch it. The movie started out great, with Christian and Anna doing their cute flirting thing, but after a while it got...unusual. In the book, their relationship makes sense, as hard as that is to believe. Readers are given a definite reason why and how the characters go from point A to point B. I don't want to say that the film was rushed - those 125 minutes were more than enough for me - but there was no explanation for anything. This only makes haters hate on Fifty even more, and that is enough cause to distress anyone. The acting felt very stilted to me, and it seemed like everything was forced. Sure, Christian and Ana's relationship isn't exactly flowing, but still, the book is a paradox of simple and complex, and this wasn't properly portrayed in the movie. To be honest, neither of the actors looked like they wanted to be doing what they were doing. It simply wasn't the emotional romance I had been expecting.

Everyone has been raving about the music, and I'll admit that that part was perfect. There's absolutely nothing about the music that I could abhor even if I tried. Besides, with a best friend who is obsessed with the soundtrack, I don't even think it's possible to hate it and live. Nevertheless, the music doesn't make up for everything else I disliked about the movie, and there's not much else to say about that.

So. To the part of the film that actually caused the film to be rated R (this is where my 17 year old self comes in). Well, I knew there was going to be nudity, but this movie really cut it close. Like, uncomfortably close. If I never look upon any skin again, it shall be too soon. No, but really, there actually weren't too many sex scenes, and for that I was glad. Turns out there is a HUGE difference between reading about something and actually seeing it. Still, one such scene is too much for me, and that probably factors into my dislike for the movie. However, the sex scenes in this movie were just sex, while in the book there was reason and emotion and it meant something. I realize that's probably hard to depict in a movie regardless, but it still dampened my expectations. I watched the film for heated glances between the two main characters and for some actually LOVE, but what I got was a flat version of the book that had the highlights but cut out the details.

What all of this basically translates to is that if anyone asks me about this movie, I will say I dislike it, as it falls woefully short of my expectations. However, I would like to bring up the topic of people refusing to watch this movie because of the fact that it is abuse. People have the right to do and say whatever they want, and that's okay, but I would like to point out the fact that millions of people have already said: the relationship is wholly consensual, and thus not abuse. This type of thing happens in the real world, and while there are many instances of BDSM abuse and non-consensuality, Fifty Shades of Grey is not one of those cases! That is only emphasized in the movie when it is made clear, over and over again, that Ana only has to say the word "red" for Christian to completely stop what he is doing. And I mean, people have their fetishes. If Ana wants what she wants, good for her. IT IS NOT ABUSE.

And with that, I will end this torture of a review. My advice: stay far, far away from this movie. If you're interested in this type of thing, read the book!

Movie Synopsis: Fifty Shades of Grey is a 2015 American erotic romantic drama film directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson with a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. Based on British author E. L. James' bestselling novel of the same name, the film stars Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele, a college graduate who begins a sadomasochistic relationship with young business magnate Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan).

The film premiered at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival on February 11, 2015 and had a wide theatrical release on February 13, 2015 by Universal Pictures. Although the film received mixed reviews from critics, it was an immediate box office success, earning more than $265 million. A sequel is planned for a 2016 release.

Source: Watched the film at the movie theater.

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey

Release Date: February 13, 2015

Director: Sam Taylor-Johnson

Running Time: 125 minutes

MPAA Rating: R

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Movie Review: Life as We Know It

This movie is more serious than I had expected it to be, probably because Holly and Eric's friends died in a car crash and left their daughter to both of them. Problem is, they're both single. And oh yeah, they absolutely despise each other. Still, that doesn't make this a bad movie. There was a lot of humor in the show, and it was interesting to see how two people who disliked each other so much could fall in love when stuck in the same house with a child.

That little mystery was one of the biggest reasons I watched 'Life as We Know It' - besides the fact that Katherine Heigl is in it - and unfortunately, Eric and Holly's love for each other just seemed to come out of nowhere. Up until more than halfway through the movie, Eric was having sex with these random ladies he picked up at the grocery store. And the one day Holly gets asked out on a date by her crush, Sam, and Eric gets jealous and wants to go out with her? I usually find that type of thing romantic, but in this film it just seemed stupid. Even though the two were constantly together, Eric never showed any signs of starting to fall for Holly: no glances, no flirting, nothing. Love doesn't just come out of nowhere, and even if it does, there has to be some sign!

One thing that struck me about this movie is how different Josh Duhamel acted. The only other movie I've seen him in is 'Safe Haven', and well, he's definitely not a selfish, woman-loving dude in that movie! I guess seeing him play a completely new character was just really interesting to me. It didn't affect the movie in any way however, especially since this entire paragraph was just a fleeting though during the movie, there one second and gone the next. Really, it shouldn't even surprise me that actors can act like different people, but it was just something I noticed while watching.

I'm sure there are people who loved this movie and adored the romance, but it just wasn't for me. If I was pushed I might agree that the romance was sweet, but there wasn't that bang you get when a couple first falls in love. It was more like a long-time couple falling in love for the second time, and I'm not even a hundred percent sure why since there's no love lost between them.

'Life as We Know It' is a great movie to watch at home with your mom, but it's not your classic romantic comedy. It's about two people coming together and coming to terms the fact that their closest friends are dead, they're stuck together, and they now have a baby. An original story that, while likeable, wasn't what I was looking for.

Movie Plot: Based in Atlanta, Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) is single, and runs a bakery. Her friend, Allison Novak, who is married to Peter, gives birth to Sophie, and makes her and Peter's friend, Eric Messer, godparents. Allison's attempts to get Holly and Eric together ends up in disaster - as both find themselves incompatible. Holly is attracted to Dr. Sam (Josh Lucas), and hopes to date him some day. Before that could happen, Allison and Peter die in an automobile accident. Holly and Eric meet with their lawyer and are told that they are now the legal guardians of Sophie. But raising a child puts a crimp on their style and they don't exactly get along.

~Watched the movie on my phone~

Title: Life As We Know It

Release Date: October 8, 2010

Director: Greg Berlanti

Running Time: 115 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13

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