New TV Spot for ‘The DUFF’ Sheds Light on Its Title

Lionsgate treated audiences to a new revealing teaser for its YA adaptation The DUFF during ABC Family’s Tuesday night prime-time lineup. For those unfamiliar with the novel by Kody Keplinger, the plot description reads as an extreme look at the cruel social ladder of high school, getting into far-fetched territory with Mae Whitman (Perks of Being a Wallflower) portraying the eponymous “Designated Ugly Fat Friend.” As the new TV spot divulges however, through the film’s designated attractive popular guy (Robbie Amell, TV’s Tomorrow People), “The DUFF doesn’t actually have to be fat or ugly.” Instead, DUFF can be seen as a new way to look at a group of friends’ odd man – or woman – out, thereby making the story’s concept a bit more relatable. Another big revelation seen in the teaser is comedic actor Ken Jeong’s (The Hangover) role as sympathetic teacher and fellow DUFF. The Ari Sandel teen comedy will hit theaters February 20.