FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF: BUELLER… BUELLER… EDITION (Paramount, 1986) D: John Hughes, w/ Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck. Rating: NNN Blu-ray package: NNN Rating: NNN
I’ve always thought of Ferris Bueller as a sociopath. He has the earmarks: studied charm, highly manipulative, no conscience, grandiose sense of self-worth, poor impulse control, out for short-term gratification. This scrapes some of the charm off the movie, which celebrates its 25th anniversary with this release, but leaves enough energy and humour to make it a pleasant evening on the couch.
High school senior Ferris (Matthew Broderick), his best friend (Alan Ruck) and his girlfriend (Mia Sara) ditch school for an innocuous day on the town, highlighted by a kick-ass version of Twist And Shout (the movie’s finest moment). Meanwhile, gimlet-eyed principal Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) and Ferris’s venomous sister (Jennifer Grey) make their separate moves to bring our hero down.
Jones’s and Grey’s are merely the most prominent of the fine comic performances that surround Broderick and Ruck (who are remarkably convincing as lifelong buddies). Edie McClurg, Charlie Sheen, Jonathan Schmock and Ben Stein all have memorable moments and get a chance to speak in the extensive extras package, which dates largely from 2005.
For sheer entertainment value, Stein’s interview is the best. First, he makes sure you know what a highly accomplished guy he is then he works to convince you that droning, “Bueller…Bueller…” marked the happiest day of his life.
EXTRAS Retrospective and contemporary making-of docs, cast interviews with each other, Ben Stein interview, more. Widescreen. English, French, Spanish audio. English, French, Spanish, Portuguese subtitles.
