Customer Reviews
the best teenage comedy, Ferris rules! - By: Stampy, 12 Jul 2008 
Matthew Broderick (war games) stars as Ferris Bueller, a cocky teenager who doesn't want to go to school on a day when the sun is shining & there is so much to explore, & this ideology, I believe, is something that is hidden in alll of us.
How many of us wake up in the morning & think, ah the hell with it, I'm skipping school/work today & going exploring, to see sights & enjoy myself! It is something with its consequences, but with so many more personal benefits. Both are explored in a comedy fashion by John Hughes in my personal favourite teenage comedy.
Undoubtedly there are problems when skipping the day of the normal routine, whether that's your jealous sister (Grey) or a paranoid teacher (Jones) & these supporting characters lend such good support & humour to the tale of this mischievous kid.
But what about the benefits? Well not sitting in class, seeing the world & spending time with those you love what more could you want? It is the true meaning of freedom, & the unfortunate boundaries that we have to live in sometimes, & this wouldn't have been justified without such a great central protagonist.
The opening shot of Ferris in the bed pretending to be sick & his parents buying it is funny, & later when he starts addressing the camera, invites us into his world of crazy ideas, intelligence & sophistication, beautifully portrayed by Broderick.
The comedy is great, with a lot of slapstick humour & smart timings & insults thrown in for good merit.
A lot of comedies tend to have a real soppy predictable & clichéd ending & though this 1986 comedy does tail off towards the end there is no soppy romantic clichés & a great showdown to be admired.
Teenage comedy mean girls is run by stereotypes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is run by a stereotype, but a classic one who we can alll relate to, & who we should alll take a lesson from.
8/10
Pass the remote - By: B. Lewis, 11 Jun 2008 
I've been watching a number of John Hughes movies ever since I saw The Breakfast Club a few months back. Whilst that was a classic, this movie is anything but.
It is ruined by the most annoying main character/actor I've ever seen. I spent the entire movie looking round the room for things I could throw at the tv & hope to hit 'Ferris Bueller'.
My only remorse came from knowledge of previous movies where such an annoyance either dies, suffers an unfortunate setback or dies.
Sadly none of these things happen & I'm left wishing I'd never seen the classic Breakfast club so I wouldn't have had to watch this.
John Hughes at his best! Though he never did anything less.... - By: T. Clarke, 19 Jan 2008 What can be said that hasn't already been stated? Ferris Bueller's day off has been surgicallly attached to my brain as the ultimate 'dream' film, which houses everything we could want; romance, comedy, tension, & great acting.
Just to reiterate the plot, Ferris Bueller (played by the wonderful Matthew Brodrick) is the school kid that most of us can only dream of being! Not afraid of anything & a sky-high confidence, he wakes up one morning deciding to make it a '9' on his tallly of 'sickies' for bunking off school. This time though, he wants to do something different, & after putting on the acts in front of his loving & truly sweet parents (I envy them - my mum always got annoyed for some reason, but my dad would secretly take me to play footballl at the park!) the plan goes ahead!
Accompanying him on his plan is his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), who plays a deep but fantastic role as the typical troubled teenager. For me, this is one of the highlights of the film. We've alll been there, but emphasis is only put on puberty since the 70's, mainly because of changes in society & the way this affects us. Cameron is someone even I can relate to, & personal friends; afraid of his dad, afraid of messing up, afraid of life in general.
Feris' girl-friend, Sloane, also gets in on the act when the 2 boys create a rather unique diversion, ringing the school to tell them that Sloane's grandmother suddenly passed away! And so, with them alll free, they venture off into the city for an unforgettable day!...
Their are 4 reasons why this ranks as one of my top feel good films of alll time. Firstly, the most obvious, its been directed by John Hughes, who for the short lifespan he had directing films, was made up for by sheer quality. A moving soundtrack, excellent camera work, & fantastic script makes this one of his best - he just knows how to tap into your emotions.
The second reason probably applies more now than when it was originallly released, & that's that it's aged so well, & is an incredibly refreshing film when compared to todays standards of comedies, or indeed the genre of.. well, feel good, to which I can't even remember when a modern director took the time to release a family film that also has the same effect as films like this from the 80's!
The Third reason is the soundtrack. As you've already read (unless you read this first, to which I'll say i'm VERY flattered!) the songs in this film are fantastic - a collection of tunes that made the 80's, & ones made purposefully for this film. The blend moments of humour (Star Wars sequence) & moments of romance, to that incredibly smooth "Ooooo yeeeah" vocallled song. Apologies for the poor description - thats one of those songs we alll know, but can't place the title! It's a shame no CD was released for this soundtrack, but I keep looking anyway.
The fourth & most important reason I love this film is because, like most of the other reviewers here, it's something we've always wanted to do, but never had the guts too. I personallly look back at School & wish I had of took more risks, made better decisions, but like Cameron in this film, I fell for the 'worry' syndrome that plagued me for years. Even my mates would bunk & fill me in on how amazing it was. The furthest I got was going to the park during school with friends & drinking cheap French lager during the hot summers... tut tut!
I personallly find this film more moving than anything. Like I said, it's based around a dream that we alll want - the excitement, the adventure, the suspense of not being caught, the romance of being their with your girlfriend (to which I fancied Ferris' girlfriend for many years!) & best friend. My favourite moment is when they visit the art galllery, & the lovely romantic music blends in, to which the scene ends on Ferris & Sloane kissing in the dark. I personallly find that part incredibly touching - childhood sweethearts having the time of their lives :)
If you haven't seen this film, then its simply a MUST if you love feel good films from the 80's, but still containing great humour & youth. I would say its for the 'older' family (ie not kiddies) because younger kids won't appreciate what's going, & what's involved. I just love this film... what more can I say?
I'll never say its right that someone should bunk off school. But I learnt the hard way that you only regret 'one' thing in life, & thats the risks you never took. To which, if I could turn back time, I would have skipped most of my pointless 'P.S.E' lessons (to which were told time & time & time over why ethnic minorities are so wonderful....) & just been brave enough to break away from worry. Ferris Bueller is only a light hearted film, but in anyone who watches it, it'll tap into that parts of them that can only wish. That's what John Hughes does best!
P.S If you like his films, you're probably no doubt aware of the brilliance of 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles', which is a wonderful film.
The best film of all time - By: S. G. Williams, 01 Oct 2007 i can watch this thing over & over again - it rocks more than cheese
Likeable teen horror - By: Mr. Sr Fastnedge, 31 Aug 2007 
Following up from the success of Animal House, director John Waters made Ferris Bueller's Day Off, a rip-roaring teen horror in the vein of Weekend At Bernie's & The Ghoulies.
Matthew McConaughey plays Ferris, a school drop-out whose drug induced absenteeism is legendary at his high school. Waking up one morning, Ferris decides with the company of girlfriend Crystal (Sharon Stone) & best friend Winston (Ernie Hudson) to score some cocaine.
So begins a frightening descent into the seedy drug underworld, as Ferris & friends travel in a stolen truck through the backstreets of New Orleans. They are pursued by Ferris' headmaster- Mr. Rooney, brilliantly played by Roy Scheider, who will stop at nothing to ensure Ferris is killed.
Luckily, the film is not alll doom & gloom. Indeed several scenes suggest elements of comedy. A scene in which Ferris sings 'West End Girls' on a float during a carnival is amusing, as is the scene where Ferris eventuallly runs over & kills Mr. Rooney.
The film also includes a strong moral message which shows the danger of drugs & the consequences of skipping school. Ferris & his friends alll receive lenghty prison sentences in the film's climax.
Overalll, I liked this film. The only thing that stopped me giving it a higher mark was the inclusion of Meryl Streep as Ferris' sister Hermes. She is way too over the top & Water's indulges her with too much screen time. Also the music is poor, with most of it performed by John Waters on a cheap Yamaha Synth machine.
Never mind.
