Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Title - Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Author/Director - John Hughes
Release Date - June 11, 1986

Plot - What more can be said about Ferris Bueller?  "Bueller... Bueller... Bueller...," Ben Stein's famous teacher famously queries as he begins his history class.  Ferris Bueller has decided to take a day off of school.  He is a high school senior waiting for the last year of high school to finally pass by.  But he does not want to let it pass him by without fully being able to take advantage of it.  His best friend Cameron wants to hide under his sheets, letting it go by as quickly as possible, trying to hide from the craziness of high school life.  His girlfriend Sloane is nervous about what the rest of her life has in store. 

But Ferris wants to seize the day.  And seize it he does.  He convinces Cameron to take his dads incredible car.  He gets his girlfriend out of school by pretending to be her father, and he goes out on an incredible trip downtown, even ending up as the lead of a big float in a parade, all while convincing his parents that he is seriously ill, evading the prying eyes of his sister, and ditching his principle who wants to get him into serious trouble.  What more trouble can any teenager get into in one day?  Through it all Ferris convinces all around him to relax, and enjoy every moment of life, because if you don't, it will surely pass you by.

Critical Review - Coming out in 1986 in the middle of the Cold War and changing situations throughout the world, John Hughes has developed a little gem.  The character he has created for Matthew Broderick creates the perfect story around him.  But the message to live life to its fullest is a lesson that resonates throughout the ages.  Whether it be from the 18th century poets imploring their lovers to take advantage of the time given to them. or Robin Williams in Dead Poet Society encouraging his students to seize the day, the notion to take advantage of the time given is timeless.  Bueller perfectly encapsulates this message to those around him.  You cannot get caught up in everything that is going on around you or you are going to miss the opportunities and life that is given to you.  While maybe one shouldn't ditch school, lie to their parents and school administrators, and sneak into restaurants pretending to be someone you are not, Hughes connects to his high school audience in this way that may others do not.  This age is testing its boundaries more than any other.  Through his day off, Bueller tests the limits of his intelligence and the boundaries of his world.  And all the while he makes sure not to let his life passing him by without being able to truly live it.

Reader's Annotation - Driving hot cars, dating the hottest girl in school, going to high class restaurants, and being the lead float in a parade leading everyone to dance wildly across the street: what more could any high school boy want?

About the Author-  John Hughes grew up in Grosse Point Michigan, mostly quite and introspective as many of the people around him were women and older people.  Through this he developed his imagination and his ability to be creative.  When he got to high school he finally started his life having some sort of a direction.  It is these days in high school that he would be able to draw from when doing many of the high school comedies that he would become associated with.

Hughes got his big film break when he wrote the screenplay for National Lampoons Vacation, written to reflect his own experiences on family vacations.  In 1984, he would get his directorial opportunity to do something and he developed 16 Candles, wildly praised reflecting the teen spirit of the age as opposed to many of the comedies being released at the time.  He would go on to direct many efforts reflecting teens and their struggles with such classics as Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Genre- Movies, Comedy

Curriculum Ties - Literature as film - How does Hughes translate the teenage plight to find their identity.

Booktalking Ideas - N/A

Reading Level/Interest Age - Grade 9+

Challenge Issues - It encourages disrespectful and negative images of authority figures.

Overcoming - Discuss classic literature that questions authority and whether or not questioning authority is a good thing.

Why Included - This was certainly one of my favorite teen comedies from my day as I was just about to start high school the following year.  This comedy seems to resonate then as much as it does today.