A new writing segment, "Ten Items or Less" is an attempt to consciously cutback and restrict how much I write. I get ten sentences or less to discuss a movie. That's it. Let's see if some genius comes out of working around my self-made obstacle.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of the best teen comedies and one of writer-director John Hughes' strongest movies. It's firstly a very funny movie and it benefits from a number of spot-on casting decisions, starting with Matthew Broderick as Ferris, as well as Hughes' lighthearted but sharply focused script. Hughes' script and direction keep things moving, wasting little time with fat; Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Jeanie's (Jennifer Grey) screentime is brief but it gives us all we need to know about them. Beyond it's humorous moments, something not commented upon enough, is a story of three teens having one last hurrah before the end of an era. There's a dark heart at the center of Ferris Bueller hidden by its playful, occasionally silly tone and episodic gags. Ferris notes himself that he's uncertain of where he stands with Cameron (Alan Ruck) and Sloane (Mia Sara) and where they go from here once the school year is over. Ferris plays it cool because, yes, that's who he is, but also because as he tells us "life moves pretty fast" and he wants to look around for awhile while there's still a chance to. Ferris and Cameron's relationship is the heart of the story, and Cameron's journey is equally as important as Ferris'. Cameron's catharsis -- in part, a story arc about him overcoming depression -- allows Ferris to be more prepared to move on from this stage in his life. Or you can just take the film as smooth operator Ferris having an impossibly great day of hooky, either way, the film is very funny and very fun.
Grade: 3.5/4 ★★★
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