An In-Depth Look At Ferris Buellers Day Off

Since the beginning of cinema, there have been thousands upon thousands of different movies covering a broad span of genres and topics. Comedies have always been a personal favorite of mine. Comedy is a very broad genre, but there are several movies that have stood out as classics. One of these classics, also my most favorite comedy movie of all time, is Ferris Buellers Day Off. This movie is a timeless representation of the culture of the eighties and, with its witty humor, will live on for generations to come.

Ferris Buellers Day Off was released in 1986 under the direction of John Hughes. The film features Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller, the sarcastic main character, Alan Ruck as Cameron, Ferriss best friend, and Mia Sara as Sloane, Ferriss girlfriend. With a budget of less than 6 million dollars, the movie was a huge success, raking in over 70 million dollars at the box office. The monetary gain made by this cinematic masterpiece is justified by its unusual character development, enthralling plot, and whimsical atmosphere.

Most movies take a plot that spans days, weeks, or even years, and cram it into a 2-3 hour film. However, in this one, Ferris Bueller and his 2 partners in crime perform all their wild shenanigans in less than 12 hours. Ferris Buellers Day Off is the story of a Chicago high school senior who decides to skip school one more time so he can have a fun day with his friends. After he feigns an illness, which his parents fall for, and his sister and the dean of students dont, he and his best friend and girlfriend snag a Ferrari and traipse all around Chicago.They visit an art gallery, the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field, an upscale restaurant for lunch, and a parade, all while they are supposed to be attending class. They are almost caught in the act by several people, like Mr. Rooney, the dean of students, and Ferriss family. This plot puts a fresh spin on the comedy genre and provides a foundation for the incredible actors and their characters to perform on.

There is a reason that Ferris Buellers Day Off is such a highly regarded cinematic work. The progression of the characters (or absence of it) throughout the film is one of the most profound things in it. Most movies contain a main character and one or two side characters that are dynamic-they experience acute change as the film progresses. However, Ferris is not the one who shows change. He would be seen by most as a static character-one that does not undergo change. The two characters that are the most dynamic would have to be Cameron and Jeannie, Ferriss sister. Throughout the movie, they experience an extreme personality shift, beginning as very uptight and ending more relaxed, similar to the personality that Ferris exhibits. Their change ties into the overall theme of the movie-live your life, because youve only got one. The actors, playing characters with personalities often seen in real life, most likely had an easier time falling into their roles. This explains why they were able to play their roles so well. The director used his cast and screenplay well to perfectly capture the spirit of adolescence. The cast, characters, and director all combined perfectly and told Ferris Buellers tale in a way that has made it a favorite for the past thirty years, and will allow it to reign in the top ranks of comedy films for many more years to come.

Ferris Buellers Day Off is historic in its own right. It was able to win audiences hearts in 1986, and it continues to do so in 2016. Many critics consider it to be a whimsical classic that represents the spirit of the teenage population, then and today. The occasional critic considers it to be meaningless and stale, but the overwhelming opinion, by critics and audiences, is favorable. In my opinion, the film reminds audiences that you should never let the magic that you find in your younger years escape you. A sense of adventure and excitement is a rarity to see in those who are older because they let life consume them. Everyone could benefit if they, like Ferris Bueller, took a minute to really experience life. In the words of Ferris Bueller, Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

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