Ferris Bueller's Day Off -- *** (out of 5)   (1986)

Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey

Directed By John Hughes

Ferris Bueller is a smart-ass know-it-all  who decides to take the day off of school on a whim. He feigns illness, and also gets his girlfriend and best friend to play hooky with him. The suspicious Principal Rooney is wise to Ferris' ploy, but needs proof, so he takes it upon himself to catch the wily Ferris in the act. The trio of kids borrow one of their parents luxury sports-car and the trio of hooksters go to town for fun.

FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF is another classic 80s John Hughes teen flick, and a cult favorite among many who were teens during the era. The film has a crazy energy and a certain charm that is unmistakable, but the contrived nature that permeates almost every scene, along with the high amount borrowed ideas and directorial styles, detracts from the overall production. The cast is memorable, but the characters themselves are annoying and the film veers from slapstick to schmaltz in a way that doesn't always mesh. Like other high energy, frenetic comedies (BLUES BROTHERS, AUSTIN POWERS) it's one of those films you either fall in love with and forgive the bad parts, or you're frustrated by due to it seeming to falter whenever it seems to finally hit its stride.


Back to Qwipster's Movie Reviews
 
 
 
 
 
 

< <