Director: John Hughes
Year: 1986
Country: U.S
Language: English
While my grandfather has seen a wealth of films and has seen many of the highly praised greats like The Godfather and Raging Bull in theaters, he as always consistently said that his favorite film is Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Not just because of the "Don't stress yourself out" message but because of its surprising anti-authorty messages as well. I too have seen this film quite a number of times and I completely agree. It has similar messages to wrongly praised films like Fight Club and A Clockwork Orange, but does it without the use of sympathizing with a rapist or having angry men beat each other up while shouting cheesy phrases at each other. It is also highly accessible for all ages.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is an innocent, heartwarming movie with a load of important messages. The first is obvious, have fun. "Life goes by so fast, that if you don't stop to look around, you might miss it" says Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick), a teenager in High School who skips school because he wants to have fun and wants to help his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) get out of his shell. Indeed he does have a good time, stopping by the many interesting places in Chicago like the Art Institute, the Board of Trade, Wringley Field, Sears Tower and get to sing "Twist and Shout" in glorious fashion at the American-German day. The film recognizes the fact that far too many people take themselves too seriously and are corrupted by greed and a need for power and control. I've worked for many places, mainly because I quit, because my bosses were all jerks. Why can't people learn to be laid back once in a while?
The film also has a very anti-authoritative message. Every adult in this film is a bumbling idiot who seem to be constantly tricked by Bueller . Do they fail to catch Bueller because Bueller is very smart or because the authorities are very stupid. I would say the latter. This suggest that there is no need to have a crippling fear of authority because authority doesn't really mean anything. You can skip school if you want and you likely might not get in trouble. The film also recognizes that authority can also do more harm than good. Cameron's dad is a controlling brute of a man who doesn't let his son do anything. The result is a spineless teenager who fakes illness in order to get out of going to school and getting bossed around by more cruel authority figures. However, unlike Bueller, Cameron fakes illness he just stays in bed all say, afraid to leave the prison of his house in which his father held him captive. The scene in which Cameron destroys his father's red ferrari, is an applaud worthy act of defiance. It shows his progression, it shows that we can overcome the tyrants in out lives.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a great study on materialism and the negative effects of it. Cameron's father has beautiful exquisite cars that are like art to him; They must only be looked at, never touched. He seems to value his car more than his son. Bueller's father seems like a workaholic, focusing more on increasing his cash flow more than his son's love. If he would have been more focused on family perhaps he could have caught Ferris skipping school, as there were scenes when his son was literally right behind him. Their focus on material gain has alienated them from their sons, much like the materialism in most families nowadays. Would this film be different if Bueller and his friends were as materialistic as their fathers? Yes. Instead of going out and exploring Chicago they would be stuck inside playing video games and ignoring their real problems. Ferris Bueller's Day Off shows how wonderful a day would be if we were not focused on gaining material posessions and our only goal was to go out and have fun. Indeed, the film is quite fun. I appreciate the charm that comes with this film, if it were more modern Ferris Bueller's Day Off might be a stoner comedy or a drunk outing. The family oriented nature of the film helps in creating a deep emotional connection with the characters/
In conclusion, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of the most charming anti-authority films I have seen. It is not bleak nor does it take itself too seriously, it is a fun emotional adventure that will inspire you to take off some days of school or work and have a memorable time. Explore the world and don't get too caught up in material gains. Defy authority, don't let overbearing bosses or teachers get the best of you. Even if you aren't a fan of family friendly films, I'm not, you will love this film. Praise it! 5/5
No comments:
Post a Comment