Skip 'The DUFF,' Stick to Costner's 'McFarland'
The relentless winter weather is forcing most people to stay indoors, but some might be considering braving the roads to see a movie at the theaters.
"The DUFF," which opens this weekend starring Mae Whitman, might seem like a good choice for teens and families, but PluggedIn Online reviewers say the film misses the mark.
"Paying homage to all those John Hughes movies from days gone by ("The Breakfast Club," "Pretty in Pink"), 'The DUFF' tells us that underneath all the labels and inside all the cliques we're really just people. And it'd sure be great if we could all be a little nicer to one another," movie reviewer Paul Asay wrote.
"Alas, the film isn't all that nice itself. It means well enough, but it slathers on a great deal of unnecessary sexual content, and that's too bad," he added.
A better option for families is "McFarland," starring Kevin Costner, about a down-and-out coach who finds a new lease on life when he takes a job as a physical education teacher in a Mexican-American community.
"With Kevin Costner setting the pace, the film hits its stride early on, and you can't help but cheer for him, his family, their new Hispanic hometown, and the young, inexperienced runners for whom it serves as their starting line," movie reviewer Bob Hoose wrote.
But this is a movie that's not just about running like crazy for the sake of a winning medal. It's about racing toward and then enjoying the rewards of hard work and friendship, community, and intercultural acceptance and understanding," he added.
Bob Waliszewski, director of Focus on the Family's entertainment department Plugged In Online, reviews both these weekend's box office options. Click play to watch.
