I went into DUDE thinking it was yet another teen comedy about prom and how much high school life sucks. I was pleasantly surprise to find a small and lovely story about friendship, love and life. Lucy Hale is a force of nature! Not to mention Austin Butler's heartbreaking presence through out the film, moving the story forward.
103 Reviews
everyone relax
dcb101429 April 2018
This movie is really not that terrible. these reviews are too harsh and critical. it's just a netflix original. take it for what it is. lucy and alex are awesome in this movie. it's good. it's an easy watch when you need something to pass the time. plus lucy is naked and sexy af and funny!
Good movie
jessicahogan5423 April 2018
To everyone saying this isn't how high school girls act, it definitely is... especially in Southern California (where it looks like this took place). All my friends smoked weed, drank, partied, and had sex in school. This obviously isn't the greatest movie but it's a good indie film and realistic depiction of high school
BAD!
xxnat_babexx24 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Am I the only one who is sitting here thinking about the girl who got raped and how it got completely dismissed/ silenced? Not exactly a good portrayal for people who are unfortunate enough to experience such a horrible attack. Obviously its OK in America to just rape people and get away with it- This should not be normalized in any way.
Not for all but quite good
LenaMieux30 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I graduated from high school a year ago and I had a great time there so I loved getting to experience it in a way again. While I agree on some things other reviewers said, I definitely dissagree on a lot of them. For starters, I wouldn't say the movie is slow. And even if it is in a way, it's perfectly fine being that for the genre it is. Action movies are for a fast format.
When it comes to the cast, it's a typical racial mix (caucasian, black, jewish, asian) which is what more movies should have if possible. People complaining about it being too generic would also complain if it were an all-white cast. Diversity is important, even if it's typical or generic. I agree that the characters are lacking development but in this story it's not that important for them to give full backstories.
Timeline of the movie is only the final two weeks of their senior year which made me feel totally nostalgic. The very beginning made me cry, parts of it shocked me, but most of all - I laughed. A lot. It has that kind of humor you'd find in these new teen comedies, which is likeable. There is no story in particular, just certain moments that make up the "story". I'm all up for plots that make sense but sometimes these sorts of "moment-movies" can be made in a quite nice way. This one was exactly that. The type of a story that doesn't really go anywhere reminds me of Palo Alto, also a good movie in my opinion. The main group is sort of a Girls Trip meets Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.
I say you give it a shot if you're in need of a good sleepover type movie, or like movies such as Girls Trip, Palo Alto, Dope, G.B.F...
Overall, 7/10 for what I expected. Can't give it more because of flaws such as everyone being high all the time, poor choices characters made and the "rape" scene (was it even that? Did nothing happen after it?). I also can't give it less because it's very likeable if you're into such movies, the cast is nicely picked (not saying I'm a fan of them already, just getting into it, but they're definitely a "new teen movie generation" (such as Nat Wolff, Emma Roberts and occasional other "teen" faces in earlier days)) and it actually makes you feel things if you let it. Don't expect more than some teens having fun, but don't underestimate the already seen storyline because it is executed quite nicely.
2 points for Lucy
rhiannonf-8217021 April 2018
Lucy Hale was the only thing worth 2 stars. The movie was stupid and I couldn't go past 5 min. You can clearly tell it was written by people who don't smoke due to the fact in the first scene Lucy practically threw away more than half a blunt.
INDIES ARE DIFFERENT KINDS OF FILM
heidilmackey24 April 2018
This movie was amazing for an indie. Seriously it has it all. It reminded me of my friends in high school. Yeah the beginning isn't great with the rapping but seriously I loved it. This movie is good if you just wanna watch something and laugh and cry. Amazing cast.
What did i just watch?
althekool120 April 2018
I'm not even sure what I actually experienced in that movie to be honest. I went in blind, and i left blind.
Nothing happens in this movie, literally nothing. I can't even spoil it for you. I just. I don't even know what to say. I've never even written a review before.This is the worst movie i've ever seen.
Why was there a Harry Potter sex joke that didn't even make any sense? that's the only thing that i remember from that movie literally nothing else stood out. They also made a tampon joke, do i need to mark this review as containing spoilers now?
Nothing happens in this movie, literally nothing. I can't even spoil it for you. I just. I don't even know what to say. I've never even written a review before.This is the worst movie i've ever seen.
Why was there a Harry Potter sex joke that didn't even make any sense? that's the only thing that i remember from that movie literally nothing else stood out. They also made a tampon joke, do i need to mark this review as containing spoilers now?
It's somewhat accurate to what I experienced in HS
kirbie218221 May 2020
I don't know what everyone is so up in arms about (other than the rape scene) which to be fair to the movie does happen quite a lot, and in a similar way to which it was portrayed on screen. It happens to a lot of young girls where it doesn't feel as dramatic or traumatic in real life because you were already there, half-naked, making out with a guy, and then he just kinda slips it in, and you don't really know how to react at that point, and even if you do say stop (instead of just cry) he doesn't listen to whatever you're saying until he finishes, and then you feel really ashamed and taken advantage of, but you also know that you were there in bed consenting to whatever it happened before hand , so you kinda try to blow it off or you aren't feeling outraged enough at that point, while still feeling responsible or ashamed, and you end up not wanting to share about it to anyone (not even your closest best friends). We all know it's not the correct response, and that we shouldn't feel guilty or feel like it was our bad, but I thought that that was kind of accurate to some people's real life experience and reaction. So, unlike others, I could easily tell where she was coming from. Obviously I don't think the drug use and the sex was all that shocking. I know my friends and I did a hell of a lot worse while we were In high school, and that was back in the early 90's, so in 2018, when the film was made, it really doesn't have any true shock value anymore. I mean 'Skins' was way more shocking than this. I also don't think calling it terrible is exactly fair and there was some really genuine acting and experiences in there as well as some fun events. A lot of it didn't work, but when it did, it worked well. I didn't hate it and I didn't love it, but it deserves better than say a 2 or a 3.
Just skip it
Gabriella-R22 April 2018
I'm not one for writing bad reviews. Because some movies can be perceived in different ways, can be understood in so many styles, depending on each one's perspective. But this is a waste of time. I think it is portrayed as a "deep" look into the life of teenagers, experiencing death, drugs, sex and similar things but it is simply boring. There is no action and to be honest I'm not even sure if it was meant to have a point.
I am giving it 2 stars and I am waaay too generous.
It is terrible. If you've watched the trailer and still expect something else to happen - spoiler alert - it won't.
It is terrible. If you've watched the trailer and still expect something else to happen - spoiler alert - it won't.
Refreshing take on being female in high school
DenverSparrow24 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Okay, this movie isn't winning any awards for plot, but I enjoyed it nonetheless because it's a totally fresh take on being a girl in high school. The characters (who, yes, are 30-year-old actresses) are confident, high achievers, happy at school, a little deviant, and don't fall into boring stereotypes. And I'll take a slow plot over one that revolves around crushes and popularity contests any day. Yeah they use drugs, but it's not a big deal and not an overwrought plot point (although who decided cigarettes were in again??). The girls are sexually liberated (and - surprise! - it's not a big deal!) and get theirs first (11 minutes!). And while I know one review said the movie normalized rape, the sad thing is...the experience of rape IS normal. Infuriatingly, that situation is all too common for girls and women in high school and college, and it often plays out exactly as represented in the movie: we deal with it, it scars us, but we move on knowing there's little that would be done if we reached out. It shouldn't be that way, but I actually kind of appreciated that accuracy and the fact that it's not the focus of the movie; yet another way the story subverts expectations.
In short: I appreciate the accuracy of the movie, and I like what the movie WASN'T about. The characters were a little boring, but refreshing. The plot was meh, but entertaining enough, and the lack of teen-girl-drama tropes more than compensated.
In short: I appreciate the accuracy of the movie, and I like what the movie WASN'T about. The characters were a little boring, but refreshing. The plot was meh, but entertaining enough, and the lack of teen-girl-drama tropes more than compensated.
would anyone even bother to hate this movie so much if it was about young men???
jeje1231 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I really don't understand why everyone is hating so much on this movie, people need to relax. It's a good movie about a group of best friends, how to cope with slowly being an adult, how friendships are changing, love, and rape. the rape-part could definitely have gotten more attention, it just flew by and that dude should have gotten more than a punch in his balls.
I seriously think that people even bother to hate this movie so much because it is a group of young women. there is 100000 horrible movies with dudes in it an it still gets like a 7 on imdb.
and the title DUDE is lame, but whatever, it's really obvious why it's called DUDE because they say it ALL THE TIME - so, there's some info for the other rewievers who didn't get the title.
Good movie, not great, but good. i like the way they are filming it and the slow tempo.
byeeee
I seriously think that people even bother to hate this movie so much because it is a group of young women. there is 100000 horrible movies with dudes in it an it still gets like a 7 on imdb.
and the title DUDE is lame, but whatever, it's really obvious why it's called DUDE because they say it ALL THE TIME - so, there's some info for the other rewievers who didn't get the title.
Good movie, not great, but good. i like the way they are filming it and the slow tempo.
byeeee
This a generous 5 stars
MotherOfCats917 June 2018
My 5 star rating stems from my love of Lifetime Original Movies (shoutout to LMN!) because "Dude" features just about all of the Lifetime movie themes in a SINGLE movie! Plus this movie features better actors and the benefit of a bigger budget than a LIfetime movie. If you're like me and enjoy more than one lifetime movie than I recommend giving this movie a try.
Utterly awful
trixie-k-885 May 2018
This popped up on Netflix so I gave it a try.
This movie is basically a 90 minute montage of 4 teenage girls doing drugs, having sex, masturbating or talking about doing so. The actual "plot" is supposed to be the girls coping with a death of the brother of one girl/bf of another and preparing to leave high school for college. But that feels completely shoehorned in. It may have been good if they put focus on the actual plot and not going for sensationalism. Really, it's just the sex and drugs. Not worth it at all unless you just want to watch the actresses on screen.
This movie is basically a 90 minute montage of 4 teenage girls doing drugs, having sex, masturbating or talking about doing so. The actual "plot" is supposed to be the girls coping with a death of the brother of one girl/bf of another and preparing to leave high school for college. But that feels completely shoehorned in. It may have been good if they put focus on the actual plot and not going for sensationalism. Really, it's just the sex and drugs. Not worth it at all unless you just want to watch the actresses on screen.
It's really slow
ersbel20 April 2018
It's slow.
Really slow.
It starts slow.
And when you keep waiting for the story to pick up it keeps slow.
It's like the production team really wanted to mimic the European artsy movies where the state pays for everything and there is enough story for about half an hour at best, so there are the big panoramas and slow panning and the actors lock in thoughtful poses which they think it's moody.
It's a nice idea. And it's a nice execution. But maybe some trimming would have made a great 20 minute medium feature.
Also felt the stress involved with perfectly matching the team: get a Jew, and a Black and an Asian. Than mix the couples to show we're cool with racial mixing. Somehow that matching seems more relevant to the script than actually making the story go.
Really slow.
It starts slow.
And when you keep waiting for the story to pick up it keeps slow.
It's like the production team really wanted to mimic the European artsy movies where the state pays for everything and there is enough story for about half an hour at best, so there are the big panoramas and slow panning and the actors lock in thoughtful poses which they think it's moody.
It's a nice idea. And it's a nice execution. But maybe some trimming would have made a great 20 minute medium feature.
Also felt the stress involved with perfectly matching the team: get a Jew, and a Black and an Asian. Than mix the couples to show we're cool with racial mixing. Somehow that matching seems more relevant to the script than actually making the story go.
Pretty enjoyable!
cb_whitewood28 June 2020
I'll open with the fact that I didn't party at all in high school, but I think this movie captures perfectly what the kids who DID party experienced. "Dude" tackles several serious issues in a way that seems about right for high school kids, and ultimately grew on me more and more as I watched. A couple jokes are cringy, but for the most part I was entertained. Donkey Kong/Bong is also a pun I did not know that I needed in my life until now. Fun stuff!
I just have one question
questiontheauthorities20 April 2018
Eh
nyreeadennis22 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Typical movie but the idea of them smoking isn't as important as I thought it would be. I think some of the subplots in this movie weren't as developed, they just kinda happened and then on to the next scene. I also think this movie just tried way too hard to be something else when it really wasn't. However the masturbation scene was something never done before which I liked but the context of it wasn't relatable enough. Not a bad movie though
searching
SnoopyStyle14 July 2018
It's the last few weeks of school before four best friends go off on their own. Lily (Lucy Hale) is student body president organizing prom. Chloe (Kathryn Prescott) is still struggling with the loss of her brother one year later but Lily may be worst. Lily is going to Columbia and expects Chloe to go to NYU. Along with Amelia (Alexandra Shipp) and Rebecca (Awkwafina), they party and smoke weed. Noah (Alex Wolff) has a crush on Lily.
I think this is trying to be a darker teen drama with humor for the modern girl. It's a struggle to get the mixture right. The comedy doesn't come off since there is the underlying sadness from the very beginning. Lily's dark abandonment issues need to be spelled out clearly and set up for later payoff. It seems to be the central issue but the movie struggles to bring it out. The good acting saves a lot of this but it's filmmaker Olivia Milch's first feature. There are good aspects and also ones that are lacking. If the audience is to care about Lily and Thomas, it would help to see their relationship. They could have a scene at the beginning with the couple talking about her losing her dad. It's a necessity. This is a valiant first attempt but it is undeniably a first attempt by a newbie.
I think this is trying to be a darker teen drama with humor for the modern girl. It's a struggle to get the mixture right. The comedy doesn't come off since there is the underlying sadness from the very beginning. Lily's dark abandonment issues need to be spelled out clearly and set up for later payoff. It seems to be the central issue but the movie struggles to bring it out. The good acting saves a lot of this but it's filmmaker Olivia Milch's first feature. There are good aspects and also ones that are lacking. If the audience is to care about Lily and Thomas, it would help to see their relationship. They could have a scene at the beginning with the couple talking about her losing her dad. It's a necessity. This is a valiant first attempt but it is undeniably a first attempt by a newbie.
Dude misses the mark, but Lucy Hale delivers a strong performance
AlbertTurgenev15 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
In this Netflix movie, 28-year-old Lucy Hale plays Lily, a Junior/Senior high school student (the movie spans over two years). It is kind of a stretch, but Hale pulls it off with ease, her acting closely mirroring her role in "Pretty Little Liars".
While still a junior, Lily is shown to be in love with James, the brother of one of her friends. However, right at the beginning, James dies in a car accident, and the plot stems from the consequences of his death on Lily. Unfortunately, they share less than 3 minutes of on-screen time together before his death, making it too brief to forge a connection with them and to truly feel the impact of his loss on Lily. As a result, the ensuing rollercoaster of fights with friends, parties, and drug use in Lily's life feels misplaced. It's meant to portray her self-destructive way of coping with James's death, but the lack of a previously established deep connection makes it hard to really get why she's acting this way. The fact that the movie tries to juggle comedy with drama doesn't really help either. Striking the right balance between the two is always tricky, and, in the case of "Dudes", it just doesn't work out. The jokes thrown in throughout make it even harder to connect with Lily's pain. In most cases, they fall flat, either because they clash with the movie's dramatic side or just don't land at all. For example, there's this scene where a girl asks to leave a meeting because she's on her period, and the guy leading the meeting goes, "Menstruation is a miracle. I'm jealous I can't experience it myself".
Throughout the movie, we meet Noah, who has a clear interest in Lily. He makes a grand gesture by writing and performing a song to ask her to prom. Initially, she turns him down, but after they bump into each other at a party, things heat up, and eventually, they sleep together. It seems like they both really connect, both physically and emotionally. However, after that, Lily hooks up with another guy and Noah returns to his "crazy ex", in his own words. Fast forward to the end, Noah's at a party with his girlfriend, and they get into a fight because she wants to snoop through his phone messages. She storms off (hinting they're done for good), and it doesn't take long for Noah and Lily to find their way back to each other. But again, it's hard to buy into their relationship. It feels like they end up together more because of how things unfold than any deep realization of how much they mean to each other.
In summary, "Dudes" struggles with its plot development, awkwardly navigating the line between comedy and drama. On the other hand, Lucy Hale delivers a striking performance.
While still a junior, Lily is shown to be in love with James, the brother of one of her friends. However, right at the beginning, James dies in a car accident, and the plot stems from the consequences of his death on Lily. Unfortunately, they share less than 3 minutes of on-screen time together before his death, making it too brief to forge a connection with them and to truly feel the impact of his loss on Lily. As a result, the ensuing rollercoaster of fights with friends, parties, and drug use in Lily's life feels misplaced. It's meant to portray her self-destructive way of coping with James's death, but the lack of a previously established deep connection makes it hard to really get why she's acting this way. The fact that the movie tries to juggle comedy with drama doesn't really help either. Striking the right balance between the two is always tricky, and, in the case of "Dudes", it just doesn't work out. The jokes thrown in throughout make it even harder to connect with Lily's pain. In most cases, they fall flat, either because they clash with the movie's dramatic side or just don't land at all. For example, there's this scene where a girl asks to leave a meeting because she's on her period, and the guy leading the meeting goes, "Menstruation is a miracle. I'm jealous I can't experience it myself".
Throughout the movie, we meet Noah, who has a clear interest in Lily. He makes a grand gesture by writing and performing a song to ask her to prom. Initially, she turns him down, but after they bump into each other at a party, things heat up, and eventually, they sleep together. It seems like they both really connect, both physically and emotionally. However, after that, Lily hooks up with another guy and Noah returns to his "crazy ex", in his own words. Fast forward to the end, Noah's at a party with his girlfriend, and they get into a fight because she wants to snoop through his phone messages. She storms off (hinting they're done for good), and it doesn't take long for Noah and Lily to find their way back to each other. But again, it's hard to buy into their relationship. It feels like they end up together more because of how things unfold than any deep realization of how much they mean to each other.
In summary, "Dudes" struggles with its plot development, awkwardly navigating the line between comedy and drama. On the other hand, Lucy Hale delivers a striking performance.
Really???
celestialkitten6 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I would've given this movie 4/5 stars if it weren't for one sloppily done borderline offensive plot hole. It honestly seems like the fact that Lily was raped was a complete after thought. Like the writers added it in as an after thought to make the audience more sympathetic towards Lily. They barely even touch on it after it happens. She was straight up raped and the only effect it had on her was making her more irritable. They completely minimized the entire thing. Which is just offensive to rape survivors everywhere. They could've done that so much better. If they had just taken the time and put in the effort they easily could've made this a great addition to the movie. I know this because the rest of the movie was just great.
Easy watching
chex1321 April 2018
Only reviewing this because the other reviews were so polarised.
It starts off pretty badly with white girls talking like gangster rappers but it does pick up as it goes along and it was definitely reminiscent of my last few weeks of high school.
Seeing lots of complaints about the girls' behaviour and drug use but the movie is set in a hippie school, similar to where I went to school and yes, we were very mutlicultural, very promiscuous and very into marijuana. Anyone complaining about how this doesn't fit their idea of high school obv doesn't get it. Perhaps you went to a school more similar to the Mike character.
I find it a much welcome break from the usual BS cheerleader, jock, geek stereotype that everyone associates with american teen movies. The great thing about Netflix movies and shows is how they are breaking all the preconceived notions of how a movie should be made and we are seeing diverse storylines that the networks would never have risked airing.
Considering that the vast majority of teen movies play into the middle america scenarios of neatly defined social roles this is a great movie which appeals to those of us that didn't go to your average government school.
It starts off pretty badly with white girls talking like gangster rappers but it does pick up as it goes along and it was definitely reminiscent of my last few weeks of high school.
Seeing lots of complaints about the girls' behaviour and drug use but the movie is set in a hippie school, similar to where I went to school and yes, we were very mutlicultural, very promiscuous and very into marijuana. Anyone complaining about how this doesn't fit their idea of high school obv doesn't get it. Perhaps you went to a school more similar to the Mike character.
I find it a much welcome break from the usual BS cheerleader, jock, geek stereotype that everyone associates with american teen movies. The great thing about Netflix movies and shows is how they are breaking all the preconceived notions of how a movie should be made and we are seeing diverse storylines that the networks would never have risked airing.
Considering that the vast majority of teen movies play into the middle america scenarios of neatly defined social roles this is a great movie which appeals to those of us that didn't go to your average government school.
Was this a stoner comedy?
jfgibson7323 August 2021
Because there is a LOT of weed in this movie. I liked this movie too much for a Netflix original. The script was smarter than I expected and the performances weren't totally unbelievable. I thought it was fine for a watch. Not especially funny, a little overly sentimental at times, but very restrained for a coming of age/leaving HS movie.
This Movie is AWFUL
kellykirk24 April 2018
This movie sucks big time. There is no plot whatsoever. Just a bunch of grown adults playing the parts of teenagers who are beyond nasty and vulgar with how they talk and act. It's like everyone is trying way too hard to be funny and shocking. The way they show these teenagers doing drugs, drinking and having sex is such a bad example for teenagers who will watch this. There is no meaning to this movie. What a waste.
Not even enjoyable whilst drunk
samboy_molly23 April 2018
This movie sucks a tremendous amount of balls! The title of the movie is stupid and in fact basically the whole movie is stupid. Not even watching this movie drunk can help it be any better. This movie is hands down the worst movie i've ever seen on Netflix. It was so bad i had to turn it off and i'm always one to watch something from start to finish.
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