Movie Info:
Writer: John Hughes
Director: John Hughes
Cast: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein
Rating: PG-13
Studio: Paramount

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: June 11. 1986
DVD Release Date: August 5, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $8.99

One of the first 80s movies I ever really remember watching is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. I was five years old when the movie debuted in theaters, so who knows if I saw it in the theater or not. I do remember owning the VHS copy of the movie and watching it on television every time it was on. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was one of those movies that was snarky enough to get kids and teens into it, but not so bad that parents wouldn’t complain about their kids watching it. I had very odd parents who had weird rules about what we could and couldn’t watch, so knowing I watched Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and even owned a copy of the VHS says a lot.

What’s not to like about Ferris? I was a good kid in school. At home, that’s another story. I was afraid of the authoritative figures at my school, so I minded my p’s and q’s. When I used to watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off I couldn’t help but be envious of Ferris. Here is a guy who can fool a whole town into thinking he’s sick, trick his parents into letting him stay home, and then go out and have a heck of a day in Chicago. What kid doesn’t dream of having a day all their own with no teacher or parents harping on them?

I have to say that even as a good student I did try putting my thermometer against a light bulb once or twice, to try to get out of going to school (I said I was a good student, not that I enjoyed school). I guess when my temperature read 107 my parents thought I was either fooling them or I was miraculously awake while my brain was frying in my head. That definitely didn’t mean I got to stay home. I ended up having to fake some other illness the next day. Even then, all I could do was hang around the house and watch TV all day, since there really wasn’t anything exciting going on around the small village of Walbridge, Ohio.

So, when I found out that I could receive a DVD copy of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in the I Love the 80s promotional pack, to review for LI Reviews, I said, “sure why not?” I already own a previous release of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but who doesn’t need multiple copies just in case something happens to one of them? Now, I’m just waiting for the Blu-Ray to be released and I’ll be set.

The Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Plot
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) has become an expert at skipping school. During his senior year, he’s already missed nine days. When he plans the ultimate skip day, he must dupe everyone, even his parents into believing he’s spending the day sick in bed. With the help of his best friend, Cameron (Alan Ruck), he springs his younger girlfriend, Sloane (Mia Sara) out of class, by saying her grandmother has passed away. Then the three of them spend the day enjoying the splendors of Chicago, Illinois.

Ferris lives in Shermer, Illinois. If that sounds familiar, it’s also the location of plenty of other 80s movies including The Breakfast Club, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Weird Science, Sixteen Candles and Pretty in Pink. John Hughes really liked using Shermer as the central location of his movies. The scary part is thinking that John Bender, Ferris Bueller, Russ Griswald, Andie Walsh, Duckie, Gary Wallace, Wyatt Donnelly, Samantha Baker, Jake Ryan, Long Duk Dong, Farmer Ted, Audrey Griswald, Claire Standish, Brian Johnson and Andrew Clark all went to the same school. Can you imagine a school filled with Anthony Michael Halls and Molly Ringwalds?!

I digress. Ferris manages to “fake” a fever. His parents, Katie (Cindy Pickett) and Tom (Lyman Ward) fall for it, but his sister, Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) knows that he’s faking. Needless to say, he manages to rig his room to show he’s asleep in bed and tossing and turning. He even uses his audio player to make snoring sound effects. Once his parents are at work, he gets ready for the day and heads to Cameron’s house. Along the way, Ferris breaks the fourth wall, consistently. By this, I mean that he speaks directly to the audience, explaining to them various things about his day, his plans and those around him.

After springing Sloane free, the three (including the hypochondriac Cameron, who has made himself sick) head out onto the town where they visit museums, eat at fancy restaurants, sing in parades and visit Wrigley Field. Ferris even convinces Cameron to let him drive his dad’s Ferrari. What Ferris doesn’t know is that more than one person is trying to prove that he’s lying about his illness. The dean of Shermer High School, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) knows that Ferris is lying, and he’ll go as far as breaking into Ferris’ home to prove it. Jeanie also wants to get Ferris in trouble, partly because she’s jealous of Ferris being able to pull off such a heist and partly because the rumor that Ferris is dying has spread throughout the school. The students at Shermer High want to help in any way they can so they set up a collection to buy him a new kidney.

One of the best John Hughes comedies, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a must see movie for any fan of Hughes, comedies, or 80s movies.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
Sure, the 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer looks good, but it’s the same as the quality of the original 1999 DVD release. A better quality picture is available in the recently released (2006) Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Bueller Bueller Edition DVD. While there are very few problems with the video quality with minor instances of grain and only a minimal amount of compression artifacts, there really is no point in getting this DVD if you own the 2006 version. Why bother downgrading?

The audio for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off I Love the 80s Edition is good. It’s the same as the audio for the two previous Ferris Bueller DVD releases. Nothing has changed because this audio works. The English 5.1 Dolby Digital surround track is dynamic with vibrant sounds that support the music-filled soundtrack. Dialogue is crisp and clear and the volume is steady without any sound overpowering another. There are English Dolby Digital surround and French Dolby Digital surround tracks, as well. Subtitles are available in English and closed captioning is available on all three tracks.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
This section is disappointing. It has fewer bonuses than both the 2006 Bueller Bueller Edition release of the movie and the original 1999 DVD release. The main bonus here is a commentary by John Hughes, which can also be heard on the 1999 DVD. There is also a bonus CD with four songs from the 80s that have nothing to do with this movie. This CD is available with all of the I Love the 80s releases.

The four songs on the CD are:

-Echo & the Bunnymen – “Lips Like Sugar”
-Erasure – Chains of Love
-INXS – “Need You Tonight”
-A-Ha – “Take on Me”

Honestly, if you want bonuses, go with the Bueller Bueller Edition. The I Love the 80s set is severely lacking in bonuses. Even the 1999 edition has more. Sure, the commentary with Hughes is excellent and full of worthwhile information, but when you can get that plus more with the 1999 release, why not purchase that DVD collection or the bonus-filled Bueller Bueller Ediiton (released in 2006) instead?

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
Have I mentioned how much I love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off? I do. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. While I prefer the Bueller Bueller Edition to this I Love the 80s release, if you don’t own the movie and don’t care much about extras then this version of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will suit you fine. Either way, you need to purchase this movie! It’s a must have DVD regardless of what copy of the movie you buy.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, DVD Review, Paramount, 80s movie, Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Grey, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck

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