Using my best Ben Stein voice, “Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?” I’m guessing that the majority of you reading that sentence are reciting the phrase in a monotone. More importantly, you recognize that the quote comes from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
On June 11, 1986, John Hughes introduced the world to Ferris Bueller, a popular high school senior who fakes being sick to take the day off. With his best friend and girlfriend by his side, Ferris experiences a perfect day of adventure, intrigue, and celebration in Chicago.
It’s been 40 years since Ferris took that day off, and Hughes’ movie has not lost an ounce of style. In a day where contrarian opinions dominate the internet, you won’t find many negative pieces on “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” It’s a quintessential ‘80s movie that remains as cool as ever.
The casting in ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is legitimately perfect
Matthew Broderick plays Ferris Bueller, the biggest role of his career and the part that follows him everywhere he goes. As soon as Ferris convinces his parents to let him stay home from school, Broderick turns on the charm, breaks the fourth wall, and invites the audience to accompany him on this enjoyable journey for the next 100 minutes.
Ferris is the embodiment of cool. As the school’s secretary, Grace explains, everyone from the motorheads to the dweebies thinks Ferris is a “righteous dude.” Guys want to be him, and girls want to be with him. From his floppy hair and patterned vest to his innate charisma and infectious personality, Ferris is the kind of person everyone gravitates toward.
Ferris can’t have a day off by himself. He needs two people by his side: his girlfriend, Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara), and his best friend, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck). The trio hops into a Ferrari belonging to Cameron’s father and heads to Chicago, where they visit the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Ferris even sneaks onto a parade float to perform “Danke Schoen” and “Twist and Shout” in what might be the film’s best scene.
The age at which you watch “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” will alter your feelings about the themes of the movie. When you’re younger, it’s Ferris’ movie — a teenager fighting to keep his youthful spirit alive as he prepares for the next stage of life: college. As I’ve gotten older, I now think the main message lies with Cameron and how Ferris wants to instill confidence in his best friend, who feels neglected by his superficial father. It’s the latter that more people can relate to in their own lives.
“Perfect” is a word thrown around too often, but I can’t think of a better way to describe the casting of the three leads. They’re so perfect in the roles that it followed them for the rest of their careers. Broderick certainly found success in other movies, like “The Cable Guy,” “The Lion King,” and “Election.” He’s also a two-time Tony Award-winning actor. Yet he’s discussed how difficult it was for him to play older characters in the ‘90s because of his success playing famous teens in the ‘80s.
For Sara and Ruck, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is probably the apex of their careers. They’ve certainly gone on to secure memorable parts, including Sara’s delightful turn in “The Life of Chuck” and Ruck’s hilarious run in “Succession.” It’s one of those situations where they’re so excellent in “Ferris Bueller” that it’s difficult to picture them as other characters.
I’d be remiss without mentioning the two villains of the movie, though one of them is more of a foil to Ferris than a true antagonist. Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), Ferris’ sister, and Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones), the dean of students, are the only two characters who are not hypnotized by Ferris’ lies. Both characters set out to catch Ferris skipping school and ruin his day. However, a conversation with a “bad boy” (Charlie Sheen) in a police station changes Jeanie’s outlook on life. Obsessing over Ferris is not worth her time, so she chooses to save him from Rooney at the end of the movie.
John Hughes’ decade of dominance
In his review of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” Roger Ebert called Hughes “the philosopher of adolescence.” Shoutout Roger! That is an excellent way to describe Hughes and his impact on movies in the 1980s. No writer or director captured teenage angst and anxiety better than Hughes.
His run from 1983 through the rest of the decade is as iconic as it gets. His seminal teen movies include “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Weird Science,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” I also have to mention that Hughes penned the scripts to “Mr. Mom,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Uncle Buck,” and the first two “Home Alone” movies. That’s a Hall of Fame resume that may never be matched.
“The Breakfast Club” is Hughes’ most philosophical script, while “Sixteen Candles” has his sweetest ending. However, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is the most fun and lighthearted script of Hughes’ career. It’s centered around a cool kid and his friends looking to escape school and their responsibilities for the day. It's an endearing movie that captures youthful exuberance.
The lasting impact of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’
For a movie that’s 40 years old, it remains extremely rewatchable. The jokes and the gags don’t feel dated. And “Ferris Bueller” is not a mean movie. You cheer when Cameron finally respects himself and decides to stand up to his father. You’re happy when Ferris and Sloane share a final kiss before he embarks on his memorable sprint home.
Movies are still paying homage to this seminal coming-of-age story. For the credits, “Deadpool” recreated the scene where Ferris talks to the camera in a bathrobe. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” modeled a chase sequence after Ferris’ end sprint through the neighborhood. “Easy A,” “Booksmart,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and many more teen movies owe a debt of gratitude to Ferris Bueller.
The quote that still hits me comes in the first few minutes of the movie. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” It’s advice from a movie that continues to stand the test of time.
“Ferris Bueller's Day Off” is now streaming on Paramount+ and MGM+.
