Ferris Bueller's Day Off | | Cast : | Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara | | Director : | John Hughes | | Studio : | Paramount Studio | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | June 11, 1986 | | DVD Released Date : | June 24, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 19, 2005 | | Summary | Ferris Wheels And Deals | Content
 | Almost any movie can be a kind of Rohrschach test, I suppose. What does it say about me that I didn't particularly care for FERRIS BUELLER. Or to be more precise, that I did not care much at all for Ferris Bueller, the character. A latter Tom Sawyer, as some have indicated? Well, perhaps. A prankster figure in the classic mode? Well, certainly a prankster, just how classic a one is subject to debate.
And to frame that debate, why not start by defining our terms? "Prankster" or "brat"?--that is the question. Does Ferris hold an ironically, distorting mirror up to society, and help his friends to realize some kind of personal liberation? Or is he a selfish, little narcissist who does what he wants, no matter what the consequences. Without going on at length about the storyline (which doubtless every reader of this review already knows), is he really that good a friend to Cameron, dragging, as he does, his genuinely ailing best friend out of his (Cameron's) sickbed. Is it really such a good thing for Cameron to accept the entire blame for the destruction of his father's sports car? Yes, Cam wil finally get to confront his indifferent, materialistic father, but is that "liberation," or suicide? And how fortunate for Ferris that after a few mild protestations, he gets to blithely skip off. Why not a least be there for his friend when the latter has to face some very dissonant music?
I know, I know. It's only a movie--an absurd comedy at that. A live action cartoon, wherein the clever mice are all-American teenagers and the buffoonish cats are just about every adult they encounter. On that level, it works well enough. And teen audiences should certainly relish seeing the adult figures getting their comedownance. It's surreal in an overtly adolescent sense of the word. It's a world where parents are dumb, high school principals are obsessive villains (believe me, in real life, most of them are more indifferent than vindictive).
But I feel almost compelled to get back to the Cameron/Ferris dynamic. That's the plot element that really interests me. Cameron is one of those doofus kids, who somewhat reluctantly always ends up doing what his more assertive, manipulative "best friend" wants him to do, and winds up confusing the trouble he gets into for a kind personal liberation. There's one born every other minute. Usually right after of the birth of a scheming brat who, in a few short years, will become the poor sap's "best friend." |
| Rating | | | Date | August 09, 2005 | | Summary | Twist and Shout! | Content
| What would a typical day be if you always got away with everything? Check in on Ferris and you'll have some idea. John Hughes, master of 80s teens dramas like Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles created an eighties film icon when he brought this film to the screen. The film is filled with old fashioned film and theatrical techniques, that to the youth of the day, was interpreted as new and cutting edge... Ferris (Matthew Broderick in the role he was born to play) spends a lot of time talking directly to the audience as his character would be the only one in the film with the guts to let anyone else see... He is surrounded by his beautiful girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and browbeaten buddy, Cameron. Although Sloane's role is pretty thankless, Cameron is the most troublesome character; it is the film's weak link even with a sufficient performance by Alan Ruck. Cameron is at times the anti-Ferris, someone who lives in constant fear of his father and authority in general. Ferris is so popular that he gets two antagonists to his adventure, his sister Jeannie (Jennifer Grey) and a school administrator played by the wonderful Jeffrey Jones. He is always willing to have every joke at his expense. One of the unwritten stars of this film is the beautiful city of Chicago, providing many of the great outdoor scenes. In fact, Ferris commands the attention of thousands of Chicago parade watchers and turns them to celebrate his whim to the strains of "DANKE SCHOEN" and TWIST AND SHOUT. This is one of the most rewarding, mindless scenes in recent history. The DVD nicely accentuates the English pop soundtrack and the video transfer is great. One drawback is one of the most boring audio commentaries in recent memory from the director John Hughes.
Be sure to stay through the closing credits... Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
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| Rating | | | Date | July 31, 2005 | | Summary | Awesome | Content
| That word pretty much sums this movie up. It was Matthew Broderick's best, other than Godzilla of course (kidding. Kidding.), but really that's all I can say about it. If you don't have this movie, buy it. If you haven't ever even seen this movie... what's wrong with you? |
| Rating | | | Date | July 17, 2005 | | Summary | "DING-DONG! Who is it?" | Content
| "Oh, I'm sorry. I can't come to the door right now. I'm afraid that in my weakened condition, I could take a bad spill down the stairs and subject myself to further school absences. You can reach my parents at their places of business. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your concern for my well-being. Have a nice day!"
How funny is that? How was it possible for a 17-year old slacker and his two friends to get out of class and back in one day? That's the whole thing about this funny 80s movie.
However, despite my 5-star rating, there isn't much to do on this DVD - I know it's an old release, but the audio commentary being the only bonus feature and not even a trailer on there? Well, at least Paramount has better DVDs now!
BTW, a couple more things:
1. If Ferris says he doesn't plan on being European, then why does he have a Union Jack in his room? I have one in my room, yet I plan on being European! (Because I care about education more than him, I guess?)
2. Why does Ferris always complain about not having a car when he has all of his cool stuff - a computer, a keyboard that plays puking noises, and a big, expensive entertainment system - in his room? |
| Rating | | | Date | July 10, 2005 | | Summary | Master OF The Rare LASERDISCs Movies. | Content
| I have Ferris Bueller's Day Off 1986 ON LASERDISC,I love this Movie Much thats why I bought it on dvd too,,you won't regret it :) |
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