Review of Ferris Bueller`s Day Off

Introduction

Bueller. Ferris Bueller. Licensed to make you laugh. A lot.

Ferris Bueller`s Day Off features the exploits of this oddly named American teenager, in a 1980s masterpiece directed by John Hughes. This is another one of those films that I actually had a VHS copy of, until it was replaced by this region one DVD in the early months of my DVD buying life. So it would be fair to say that I`ve watched it a few times and am more than familiar with some of the classic scenes throughout this movie.

Video

I`ve never seen it looking so good!

We are treated to a very nice 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, and the film deserves no less given some of the great scenery on offer. There are a few grainy patches and some artefacts cropping up now and then, but given the age of the print this is just about forgivable.

And if you`ve only ever seen this film on VHS or TV in 4:3 pan`n`scan, you`ve missed a lot and must watch this version to see just how much you`ve never seen.

Audio

A DD5.1 soundtrack is presented here, obviously remixed from the original mono soundtrack. The film is reasonably dialogue based anyway, so doesn`t always benefit from the remix in terms of sounds bouncing around the soundstage.

One thing that is helped by the remix though is the music used throughout the film. There are some 1980s-defining tracks featured here, including "Love Missile F1-11" by "Sigue Sigue Sputnik" (remember them?) and "Oh Yeah" by Yello (the closing credits music).

There are plenty more great musical tracks, including the famous "Twist and Shout" scene, and the soundtrack is just another reason why this film is so great.

Features

The big selling point here is that you get a director`s commentary, which is exactly the sort of extra you need with a film like this. Hughes has got quite a lot to say for himself and if you`re a fan of the film you`ve really got to listen to this commentary track to find out more about it.

Conclusion

I think you`ve probably guessed what I`m going to say here. This is a fantastic film, a shining example of 1980s teen comedy, and a film that`s still as funny today as it was many years ago. Great soundtrack and great photography just add to the package. If you`ve not seen it, then you really should see it, and if you have seen it, you`re going to want to buy it. There`s no real difference between the region one and two versions, so the choice is up to you. I chose region one because it was the first one to be released and I wanted this in my collection.

One of the best points about Ferris Bueller`s Day Off is that all of the main characters in this film are good, and it seems that for a lot of the actors this was a career highpoint - let`s take a look at some of our main cast to see what I mean.

Both of the Bueller siblings (Matthew Broderick, obviously & Jennifer Grey, who was to become more famous for Dirty Dancing a year later) get great lines and great moments in this film. Broderick has had good roles since, but will probably be Ferris forever. After Bueller and Dirty Dancing (whatever you may think of that particular film), Grey has never seemed to get another decent role.

Mia Sara, who plays Ferris` girlfriend is another who has never really had a decent role since. Action fans may have spotted her opposite Van Damme in sci-fi romp "Timecop", but she has kept a rather low profile.

Alan Ruck will forever be Cameron Frye - eagled eyed Star Trek fans may have spotted him playing a captain in Star Trek: Generations, but this is probably the best role that he ever had. He gets some great lines of course, and his impression of George Peterson on the phone to Rooney is great.

This brings us to Dean of Students Edward R Rooney, brilliantly played by Jeffrey Jones. With lines like "I did not achieve this position in life by having some snot-nosed punk leave my cheese out in the wind", Rooney is defined. He even gets the end credits all to himself, riding home on the bus. Jones, like Broderick is one of the actors who actually seem to have had a few good roles since this film, but he did turn up in a few stinkers like "Howard the Duck".

Rooney has a secretary, and even she gets some great moments, picking pencils from her hair and sniffing Tipp-Ex (don`t try this at home kids). Edie McClurg plays the dizzy Grace, and she also pops up as a car rental worker in Trains, Planes and Automobiles, when she`s on the receiving end of Steve Martin`s f-word peppered tirade.

You`ll also spot a young Charlie Sheen here too, and he`s had his fair share of ups and downs over the years.

But I digress. Watch this film, it comes very highly recommended.