Ferris Bueller's Day Off

I could have just done a blog on 80s movies. In fact, this blog is not far away from that. Hell, I could have just done a blog on John Hughes movies and had plenty to say about the matter.

Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the best of the John Hughes films. Yes, I put it above The Breakfast Club. For me, it's the pinnacle of all that Mr Hughes did well; fantastic cast, witty script, an understanding of teenagers without being preachy and over earnest and a Yello song. What more could you possibly ask for? Charlie Sheen you say? You got him. A hilarious array of one-liners, I hear? Yep, got them too. In fact, my sister and I can spend an evening quoting Ferris lines to each other. Frankly I am hard pushed to think of a better way to spend an evening.

So Ferris. John really struck gold with Matthew Broderick who is cocky, yet kind. He plays Ferris to perfection. The film is so beautifully set up. The boredom of school is presented to us (voodoo economics), the sunny outdoors beckons and who wouldn't want to play hooky and go round Chicago with Ferris? You just know that he is going to graduate; anyone who can set up the elaborate scheme at home to convince his parents, and anyone who happens to knock at the door, that he is too ill to get up is clearly a smart cookie. So he deserves his day off.

One of the things I love about this is that the three of them spend their day fruitfully. They do the culture thing at the art museum, they eat at a fine restaurant (sausage king of Chicago!), they go to a baseball game, they visit the top of Sears Tower. If you were going to take a day off, this is how you'd want to spend it. Preferably in a vintage ferrari.

I could go through the whole movie and tell you my favourite bits but it would be the longest post ever as I'd pretty much be quoting the entire film. Instead I shall say that Jennifer Grey is so great in this and has one of the funniest scenes in the film when she returns home and punches Principal Ed in the face and calls the police. I also love Alan Ruck as Cameron, Edie McClurg as Grace and Jeffery Jones as Ed Rooney - I just love the way he answers the phone - "Ed Rooooney!"

Ferris Bueller never overstays its welcome. Every scene is perfect and it even plays the credits at the end as more action unfolds - I do love it when a film does that. In short, it's the perfect film for whatever mood you are in - sad, happy, nostalgic - a viewing is like a tonic.

I leave you with one of my favourite moments. Enjoy!