How is it possible that it’s been forty damn years since I had one of the funnest times I ever had at a movie, watching Ferris?. It was different with its fourth wall gags (common place today) right to that end credits scene which caught everyone off guard (nowadays end credit scenes are commonplace).
Released June 11,1986 this movie is nearly perfect. Oh I know John Hughes may have more loved movies out there, but this was my favorite. It’s a love letter to Chicago that made Matthew Broderick a star. Hard to believe I wasn’t even in junior high when it was released! And right through high school if I had a day off chances were it was this movie I was watching (or Back to the Future). As you know I like to discuss five things I “hate” in good movies. Except this is so well written, so well directed, so well edited and so well cast that it’s very hard to find legitimate problems. So forgive me if I resort to nitpicking for this article. Here are five things I “hated”. And you will not see one word about Ferris being a “sociopath” or any of that nonsense that has popped up over the years. Remember just enjoying a movie for what it was?
Jeffrey Jones
Ok here is a cheap shot but I got nothing. It’s to bad that Rooney had to be played by Jones, and we all know why I say that. He played this role so beautifully too. Then again knowing what we know now kind of makes the pain Rooney experiences in the movie even more satisfying. His was one of my favorite movie comeuppances ever.
“Save Ferris”
Let’s be honest this running gag gets a little ridiculous by the end. In just the course of a few hours Ferris has the whole city pulling for him? It’s in the newspapers? The police know about it?? And his parents have no clue at all? Probably the worst joke in the mobile is when Jeannie opens the door to a hooker or whatever it is. Wtf? To this day I don’t get that one I’d have cut that out but I’m not John Hughes.
How long is this day???
Let’s be generous and say he picked Sloan up at 8 (which is very generous). Ferris went to the city, parked the car, went to the top of sears tower, visited the stock exchange, had a long fancy lunch, went to a ballgame (let’s be fair and assume he didn’t do the whole game it still has to be at least 1:00 by now) went to an art museum, participated in the parade, had the whole breakdown with Cameron (including a ride to the beach and a jacuzzi) all before 6pm? Sure. And then at the end the bus is dropping students off after 6pm? What school day is that long??!
Forced situations
Sone of the plot developments are ridiculous. Like the scene where Ferris blows his top about Cameron’s call to Rooney. I know it’s to lead to needing the car but that fight seems out of place. Rooney mistaking the girl for Ferris is lame not only is it obviously not him but why would he be there?? Or the fact they picked Ferris father’s restaurant, cmon. Even Ferris points out how unlikely that is. And as awesome as the parade scene it’s truly a turn your brain off moment. How in the world did Ferris get on that float? No one stopped him? And even Cameron says that someone must have seen him but Ferris dismisses that. Why is there no evidence they have a dog except when it attacks Rooney?
Cameron hijacks the plot
Ok as I said this is nitpicking, I’m not saying this is bad. But at the same time, Cameron’s big scene does go on a bit long and drags things down imho. It’s basically a deep character dive and it’s well done acting. But the movie has been fast and this scene just slows the whole thing down. It would pick back up afterwards granted but this still feels odd. Matthew Broderick hardly has a line after talking all movie! The reason why it doesn’t ruin the movie is that Alan Ruck gives such a wonderful, vulnerable performance that we do care (and you gotta wonder what did happen when his father came home). I know people will say I missed the point the movie is about Cameron at the end of the day. Fair enough. But at the end of the day I was more interested in Jeannie’s character arc. starting off so bitter but after Charlie Sheen’s awesome cameo coming in at the end to save Ferris and put the final nail in Rooney’s coffin. I loved Jennifer Grey in this.
When I was young the art museum scene kinda bored me but now that I’m older I appreciate it more. As I said this movie is nearly perfect, right to that wonderful ending, and I just love it.
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