Ferris Bueller’s Day Off — teenager views classics
A hero to teens of any generation.
The 21st century is a great time for cinema, but then again it’s all I’ve ever known. There are many classic movies from the previous century that are still held in high regard today, and I want to know if that praise is justified. Ferris Bueller is a hero to teenagers from his time, but can he still be called that 30 years after the release of the film? This review looks at the classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” from a modern point of view.
So, what is this 30 year old film like to a teenager born way after?…. Great! It’s as simple as that. I had a lot of fun watching this and was not at all bothered by any outdated elements. Ferris Bueller charms audiences into accepting his shenanigans in this timeless, lighthearted high school comedy.
The best thing about this film by far is the breaking of the fourth wall. Ferris often interrupts the story to speak to the audience directly. I have seen few films that dare to do this so bluntly, and even fewer that succeed. Every time Ferris looks into the camera it reminds the audience to not take this film too serious. It keeps things light and fun, and light and fun are the two things that this film stands on. There isn’t much depth and most characters stay underdeveloped, but somehow that works perfectly because this is a feel good movie. The audience knows it, but John Hughes knows it too, and breaking the fourth wall like this is the perfect way to tell us that he knows.
Of course, breaking the fourth wall in such an obvious fashion would never have worked, were it not for the likable, charismatic leading character who addresses us. Ferris Bueller is as loved by the audience as he is by the people on the screen, which is surprising for the amount of depth he has. Our protagonist is quite a flat character that relies solely on his charm and cheekiness. Charm and cheekiness though, are all this character needs, as the crazy events of his day off are enough to fill up the run-time and make audiences feel content.
However, this film is not flawless. One problem I have with the movie is that it didn’t find its heart until late in the run-time. Only near the ending of the story is it revealed to us that the day is really about helping Cameron and showing him a good time before senior year is over. While this is not completely unexpected, it does come very late, giving us little time with Cameron and Ferris in this moment before the film moves into the resolution.
In conclusion this film is all it needs to be, and nothing more. John Hughes knows exactly how to bring this lighthearted, fun, and a little bit ridiculous story to the screen. Ferris Bueller shows us that charisma and a bit of recklessness are all a film needs to be great. I would highly recommend this film to everyone, as it’s simply a good time, no matter the time you watch it.
