Review: ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ 35 Years Later Still One of the Best

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” remains one the best films ever made.

The 1986 John Hughes classic is one of my earliest favorite films. I watched the tape endlessly as a kid, as a sick-day movie and an anytime treat. It may in fact be my single most watched movie, but who knows.

The film stars Matthew Broderick as the titular teen; the original cool kid who has control over the entire school and can get away with anything. Ferris continually breaks the fourth wall as he narrates his thoughts. Opening with an elaborate scheme to take a sick day from school, Ferris is joined by his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) on a memorable day of excitement. “The question isn’t, “what are we going to do,” Ferris states as the day commences, “the question is, “what aren’t we going to do?”

John Hughes (the late icon in ’80s filmmaking) grew up in Chicago; and like most of his films, “Ferris” takes place amidst the gorgeous backdrop of the 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”. While watching, the viewer will consider Chicago itself to be a character in the story.

A comedy by design, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is, at its heart, a tale of friendship. The all-knowing Ferris dispenses bits of wisdom throughout the journey, and genuinely explains to the troubled Cameron at one point “I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for you.” Straddling the line of realism, Ferris and his friends are stalked throughout the day by the school principal (Jeffrey Jones) and Ferris’ own sister (Jennifer Grey.) Each are determined to bring overdue justice to the slick Ferris. No matter how cartoonish, everything fits within the crafted universe of the story.

The cast delivers in all aspects. From Broderick’s cool composure to Ruck’s high strung anxiety, each character is a flawless representation of what they are intended to convey. Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward play the Bueller parents, and character actor Edie McClurg is funny as the principal’s secretary. Charlie Sheen and Ben Stein make memorable cameos, with the latter being most known for one simple word spoken on repeat. Bueller…Bueller….The soundtrack is filled with 80s gems, and the costumes, set design, and layout of Ferris’ bedroom offer perfect nostalgia.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is one of my favorite films. Funny, emotional, and memorable, it stands as one of Hughes’ best works. One of the most iconic lines; “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Is still emulated by high school seniors in yearbooks today – 35 years later. That in and of itself demonstrates the iconic nature of a 103 minute comedy. It’s a film that should be owned, cherished, and replayed.