Hughes, John. Ferris bueller’s day off. Paramount Pictures, 1986. DVD. 103mins. ASIN: B00001MXXH
Summary
On a beautiful spring day, high school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) decides to fake illness and skip school. He persuades his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to join him on an adventure through Chicago as a last fling before they head off to college. They borrow Cameron’s father's prized possession, his 1961 Ferrari 250 GT, to travel downtown; then, leaving it with parking attendants, they enjoy the city. Meanwhile, back at school, classmates are genuinely concerned for Ferris’s welfare, and set up a donation fund to help “Save Ferris” on his road to recovery. Ferris’s sister, Jeanne, knows her brother is faking it as does the school principal, Mr. Rooney. Mr. Rooney makes a personal visit to the Bueller house to catch Ferris truant, but Jeanne is there and mistakes him for a burglar so calls the police. When the police arrive and find no one breaking in, they arrest Jeanne for prank calling. At the station, Jeanne meets a drug dealer (Charlie Sheen), who tells her it’s more important to worry about herself than her brother. At the end of their fun day in Chicago, Ferris, Sloane, and Cameron realize that the parking attendants have taken the Ferrari for a joy ride, adding hundreds of miles to the odometer, for which Cameron’s father will be very angry. In an effort to situation, they end up totaling the car. Ferris offers to take the blame, but Cameron insists on finally standing up to his dad. Ferris must make it home in time before his parents get there and his sister helps him out.
Evaluation
This movie is an example of all the fun teens can have skipping a day of school. Ferris’s journey through Chicago makes the audience feels as if they are there too, enjoying all the sights and sounds of such a magnificent city. With Ferris, they see a game at Wrigley Field, go to the top of the Sears Tower, and enjoy art at the Art Museum. Ferris Bueller’s Day off portrays the classic conflicts of teens versus adults as Ferris tricks his parents into believing he is sick, Cameron is afraid of his father, and they escape the clutches of the high school principal. The movie is filled with meaningful lines. Ferris observes, “Life moves so fast, that if you don’t stop to look around, you might miss it.” In fact, that is exactly what the movie is about. It is also about finding one’s self respect and voice as Cameron finally stands up to his father. The plot is uncomplicated and fun, which parallels the relatively simple life of high school before teens face the changes and
responsibilities of adulthood.
Readers Annotation
Ferris Bueller fakes illness to skip school for a day. With his girlfriend and best friend, he enjoys the sights of Chicago before they all have to leave for college.
Information about the Director
Roger Ebert has called John Hughes “the philosopher of adolescence.” Other John Hughes films include The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Some Kind of Wonderful, and Pretty in Pink. Hughes was born February 18, 1950 in Lansing, Michigan and moved to Chicago when he was 13. After graduating Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Illinois, Hughes attended Arizona State University, but dropped out before graduating. His directorial debut was Sixteen Candles in 1984, and his depiction of teenage life was hugely successful. Paramount Pictures then offered him a multi-film contract, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was part of that. Most films by John Hughes are about teenage characters in high school settings. However, films such as Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and Home Alone took a break from that setup. He is credited with boosting the careers of many actors such as Matthew Broderick, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, and Judd Nelson, who are often referred to as “The Brat Pack.”
After 1994, Hughes lived a life removed from filmmaking when went to live in Wisconsin. John Hughes then died of a heart attach while taking a walk in New York City on August 6, 2000. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy, their two sons, and four grandchildren. John Hughes was 59 years old.
Information for John Hughes was obtained from bio.com.
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Curriculum Ties
City of Chicago
Booktalk Ideas
What would you do if you skipped school for the day?
Challenge Issues
N/A
Why Included?
How could I not include a John Hughes film? Who can forget the teacher taking roll? “Bueller? Bueller?” “Anyone? Anyone?” I have done that with my classes, and unfortunately, most of the time they don’t understand the reference. This movie is a classic.
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