author_by_night: (Folks by ozqueen (quoted from To Kill a)
[personal profile] author_by_night


A long time ago, I saw Ferris Bueller's Day off. Or part of it; I believe we watched some of it in school when I was about seven or eight years old, but then my teacher realized it was probably not the most appropriate thing for six to eleven year olds to watch - when the dog was knocked unconscious, she shut it off. I think - that or I just didn't remember that much of it.

In any case, I watched it last night and I was actually pretty surprised at how good it was. By that I don't just mean the quality - I mean, it's John Hughes, "good movie" pretty much goes without saying. (Except for his kids' films.) I mean, it really hit the mark in ways that a lot of teen fiction - be it books, movies, TV shows - just doesn't.

For those of you who've been living under a rock, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is about a kid who decides to skip school by pretending he's sick. He constantly breaks the fourth wall, explaining his actions to the camera. Yet these actions and motivations actually develop. When the movie first opens, we get the impression Ferris is just another selfish slacker. But Ferris chooses to spend his day off not sneaking into bars or going to the beach, but instead going to an art gallery and the Sears Tower with his best friend and girlfriend. Moreover, he expresses actual concern for his friends, and a little bit of trepidation about college. This isn't just a kid who would rather be watching TV all day, but a kid who isn't finding any life in his own life.

And who can blame him? None of the adults seem to have a clue, and either just sort of let the kids go about their business with nervous grins or bully them. His teachers teach in monotone. It isn't that Ferris is apathetic, nor Cameron, nor Sloane; it's that the apathy around them is infectious - maybe they really are sick, in a sense.

The thing that many teen-oriented media forms seem to miss is that teens are complex - without being taught to be complex. Any other director could have had Ferris as purely antagonistic, a stupid character who would be punished, or as a character who would have to grow morals and admit to the world that he'd done something very naughty and was sorry. Ferris is a person - he's selfish, but he also has good intentions. He manipulates people, but he cares about them. It's depth not seen nearly enough.

If you feel like some good ol' 80s nostalgia, or you're just resentful of all those teen movies you used to watch telling you you're either a teenage drama queen or have never been kissed, see Ferris Bueller's Day Off. And watch the movie all the way to the end of the credits - trust me. ;)

Date: 2012-01-29 06:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scarlett71177.livejournal.com
Evidently there will be a Ferris commercial during the Superbowl. Or some kind of reference at least. Regardless, I'm old and stoked. It's kind of like seeing an old friend.

Date: 2012-01-29 06:44 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] author-by-night.livejournal.com
I'd heard about the possible sequel - that's what made me realize I'd never seen it "properly". :) I hadn't watched the commercial though! *Watches* Ooh!

I hope there is a sequel - normally I don't like sequels, but I trust Matt Broderick. And I think it could be fun to see what they do with it. Plus, you know if they don't do this there'll be a crappy remake.

Date: 2012-01-29 06:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scarlett71177.livejournal.com
Oh gosh, I hadn't heard about a sequel, but that would be kind of fab. I like MB, and I trust him too. Whatever the commercial is, it'll be fun to see him 'in character' again.

Date: 2012-01-29 11:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quinns-crossing.livejournal.com
Well, why not? I remember a "Godfather" commercial during one Super Bowl. Another Super Bowl made fun of "Fargo." Of course, those commercials are only funny to those who have seen the movies, lol!

Date: 2012-01-30 02:20 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daintress.livejournal.com
That's awesome! :D

Date: 2012-01-29 06:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] coffee-n-cocoa.livejournal.com
Aging myself here: I saw this in the theater when it first came out. It's one of my favorite films from my teen years!

Date: 2012-01-29 06:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] author-by-night.livejournal.com
I can't really think if I had a movie I'd call my favorite that was, you know, for teens and about teens. Maybe Legally Blonde? I know there was a movie when I was in high school with the Olsen twins everyone said was ripped off of Ferris Bueller's Day off, but I think it was just a crappy movie. (I only saw it because I was desperate to see the Chamber of Secrets trailer. True story.) Never Been Kissed insulted real nerdy awkward girls like me, I still can't decide if Mean Girls is a parody of stupid teen movies, Bring it On was annoying and I didn't finish, I'm pretty sure Crossroads is illegal in some country on account for being just that stupid... and I can't really think of any others. I just looked on wikipedia and it seems like most teen movies when I was a teen were either really dark or they weren't really my kind of movie.
Edited Date: 2012-01-29 06:55 pm (UTC)

Date: 2012-01-29 10:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] acusa-dora.livejournal.com
That's one of my favorite movies of the '80s. It's quite good, without being as moody as some of the teen movies that were around in the '70's.

Date: 2012-01-29 11:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quinns-crossing.livejournal.com
I forgot most of it. Maybe I'll see if the library has a copy.

We have a friend who loves Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure which I think is from the 1990s but kind of the same genre. He thinks it's hilarious when they call Beethoven "Beeth-Oven".

Someday I want to see The Breakfast Club again, too. I don't know if I can get my husband to go along with that, but maybe.

Date: 2012-01-30 03:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] huehau.livejournal.com
There's a book about the teen movies of the 1980s, focusing mostly on John Hughes' movies, that you'd probably be interested in. There's a section on Ferris Bueller. It's called You Couldn't Ignore Me if You Tried: The Brat Pack, John Hughes, and Their Impact on a Generation.
Edited Date: 2012-01-30 04:02 am (UTC)

Date: 2012-01-30 07:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bemkah.livejournal.com
When were you a teen, Amy? It sounds like we were teens at around the same time!

I remember 10 Things I Hate About You came out in either 1999 or 2000, when I was 14 or 15. I loved that movie. I only saw it on dvd though - I have no idea why I didn't go see it at the movies. It was brilliant though, and probably my favourite movie of that era about teens.

I remember seeing She's All That when I was 15 - I think it came out in 1998 when I was 13? And Final Destination came out in 2000 and I enjoyed that- Devon Sawa, anyone? Lol.

But yeah, you're right. Generally the best teen movies were made in the 80s by John Hughes. I love Pretty in Pink and the Breakfast Club as well as Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Date: 2012-01-30 09:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shiiki.livejournal.com
*crawls out from under rock*

Yeah, I've never heard of this show ... but it sounds interesting. I like movies that portray characters as more than 2D heroes/villains.

Date: 2012-01-30 02:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] daintress.livejournal.com
This is one of my very favorite movies, for all the reasons you listed. I'm glad you got to see it. :)

Date: 2012-01-31 06:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] purple-ladybug1.livejournal.com
So one of my favorite movies. Pure brilliance.

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