Ferris Bueller

[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. ;)

Comments

[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.