Review of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) by Thomas D — 01 Dec 2016

I'm not sure exactly why I wasn't a huge fan of this movie when I first saw it a few years back, but that's certainly not the case now. Not only is this possible John Hughes' funniest feature to date, but there's plenty of heart to be found underneath all the giggles.

Ferris, one of the biggest procrastinators in film history, decides to take a day off from school and suggests/forces his closest friends do the same. What follows is just about the most ridiculously funny high school films to date. Pulling your parents leg about being sick is one thing, but convincing the entire city of Chicago that you're nearly on your death bed when you're actually singing Twist and Shout in the middle of a parade? That's another thing entirely.

Yes, seeing a principle go to the lengths that Ed Rooney does to take Ferris down is a bit silly. But when you have a talent like Jeffrey Jones to work with, you have to take advantage of all the physical comedy chances you have. But speaking of talent, no one could have played Ferris better than Matthew Broderick. If you don't buy into Ferris breaking the fourth wall within the first minute or so of the film, than the entire story won't work. But with Broderick's charismatic charm, you buy into every second of it.

It's like a great 90's action film, it doesn't take itself too seriously. It knows that most parents wouldn't actually buy into Ferris' "sickness", or that he could impersonate a well-known Chicagoan to get into a restaurant, or even lead a parade, but the film exploits every one of these situations. They take every chance they get in creating a ridiculously humorous moment.

It's not going to blow your socks away with a realistically dramatic take on high school or real-life problems (though some are certainly touched upon), but it is a timeless tale of procrastination during youth, and the great lengths that one could go to make their day extraordinary. The imagination is strong here.

+So ridiculous.

+Only works if Broderick is as good as he is.

+Fast paced with another laugh just around the corner.

8.8/10.