“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” Prophetic quote from the bowels of Socrates, Aristotle, or Ghandi? Hardly. The poignant and perfect eighteen word quip on life hails from the mouth of a slick-talking and smooth-acting high school senior named Ferris Bueller, the titular character in writer/director John Hughes’ 1986 film, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
The premise for the comedic tale of a too-cool high school student that’s idolized by the entire student body regardless of their social clique, and who has full control over the school by his sheer brashness and cartoonish control over peers, parents, and teachers alike has spawned a plethora of rip-offs over the years, most notably Zach Morris, Parker Lewis, and even a Ferris Bueller television show that thankfully was pulled after 13 episodes. The original Ferris remains the best.
John Hughes (the late icon in ’80s filmmaking) grew up in Chicago; and like most of his films, Ferris Bueller takes place in the ‘Windy City.’ Hughes featured several famous Chicago landmarks such as the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, the Von Steuben Parade, and the Art Institute of Chicago in the film. Said Hughes, “I really wanted to capture as much of Chicago as I could. Not just in the architecture and landscape, but the spirit.”
Its early morning in May, and all signs point to an absolutely beautiful day. High School senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is in the process of feigning sick to his parents (Lyman Ward and Cindy Pickett).
The ruse is bought and Ferris is allowed to stay home in bed. Once the house is clear, Ferris begins to implement an ingenious scheme he has obviously taken some time and thought to concoct, breaking the fourth wall as he does throughout the movie to explain to the audience what he is doing and prepping for his big day.
Full of great quotes, Ferris shares the ultimate way to pull off a phony sick day. “You fake a stomach cramp, and when you’re bent over, moaning and wailing, you lick your palms.It’s a little childish and stupid, but then, so is high school.” The prep work he does seems nonsensical at first, though eventually every little thing he does will be revealed as instrumental in his plan of staying out of school and avoiding detection.
He then convinces his hypochondriac best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) who has stayed home himself with an actual cold to join him. Cameron comes from a wealthy and dysfunctional family, making him stiff and unable to cut loose. As Ferris describes him, “Pardon my French, but Cameron is so tight, if you stuck a lump of coal up his ass, in two weeks, you’d have a diamond.”
Through another dynamic ruse, the pair, now armed with Cameron’s father’s prized 1961 Ferrari, remove Ferris’ girlfriend Sloan (Mia Sara) from the school. “The question isn’t, “what are we going to do,” the question is, “what aren’t we going to do?” Ferris asks, and the three blast off in the convertible for downtown Chicago. The all-knowledgeable Ferris, wise and brilliant far beyond his seventeen years of age, explains this will probably be the last great day of fun the three of them share together before going off to college in the fall. As he tells Cameron, “I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for you.”
Meanwhile, the Dean of Students, Edward R. Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) – having had to put up with the antics of Ferris the past four years – suspects something is afoul and sets off to prove once and for all that Ferris is again scamming everyone. The other antagonist comes from the role of Jeanie Bueller (Jennifer Grey), Ferris’ own sister who is tired of her brother always getting away with his pranks. Despite the entire school (and city of Chicago) rallying around the “ill” Ferris, Jeanie decides to catch him in the act of skipping as well.
Though a comedy that makes no attempt at realism, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a heartfelt story complete with life lessons and numerous hysterical moments. The notion of taking time out of our annoyingly busy and drone lives to enjoy actually living holds just as true in 2013 as it did in 1986. Despite Ferris orchestrating the plan, it really does seem the biggest benefactors of it are his friends, who will learn to grow and retain for a lifetime the memories and lessons learned in this eight hour day – proving far more valuable than the humdrum teachings of a random day in high school.
Many of the lines from the film have become everyday pop sayings, and the movie launched the career of Ben Stein, whose portrayal of the monotone first period professor and his morning roll call (Bueller…Bueller…Bueller…) has taken a life of its own. Even a band called “Save Ferris” took its name from the movie.
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” should be owned for its sick day value alone, though it’s an awesome watch whenever you want to see a truly great and enjoyable movie.
– by Matt Christopher
