Ferris Bueller's Day Off (www.the-usher.com)

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it"

Bored of High School, Ferris Bueller (Broderick) decides to take a day off and persuades his best friends Sloane (Sara) and Cameron (Ruck) to join him. He has everything planned, from faking illness to his parents to heading into Chicago in Cameron's father's vintage Ferrari. The only person standing in the way is dean of students Ed Rooney (Jones), who has his eye on Ferris but as he says "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it"

When it comes to picking the best teen movie ever made, on top of most people's list will be one film that influenced a generation 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.

In 1986 writer/director John Hughes was on top of his game. After huge success with 'Sixteen Candles', 'The Breakfast Club', 'Weird Science' and 'Pretty in Pink', Hughes was on a roll and then he decided to introduce the world to a character that would become the quintessential teen icon of 80s, Ferris Bueller.

The 80s was a time of excess. Money was flowing, music was new romantic and electro and violence was rife on TV and in the movies. What the 80s did well however was the character driven teen and young adult movie. John Hughes created characters that you could believe in and connect with or even inspire to be. He successfully captured what was cool about the time and a character that could exploit everything and everyone around him to create the perfect day off.

When Ferris Bueller decides to take a day off from High School, he doesn't exactly just stay at home and watch TV. Ferris has planned a day that is almost legendary in status and Chicago will not know what has hit it. From 'borrowing' his best friend Cameron's father's Ferrari, to leading a parade and onto finding out what life is really about, Ferris, Sloane and Cameron have a day that they will never forget and one that every teenage will want to emulate.

This was the movie that made Matthew Broderick star. In Ferris he created a character that every girl longed to be with and every guy wanted to be. He is quintessentially cool and narrating the movie by talking to the camera and informing you of his thoughts and conveying his wisdom as you watch his adventures. Joining him on his off are his two best friends Sloane and Cameron played by Mia Sara and Alan Ruck. Mia Sara quickly became every teenage boy's dream woman but you wouldn't expect Ferris to be seeing a girl that was all about looks. Sloane is as intelligent as she is beautiful, as most women are in John Hughes movies and it is this that draws both the male viewers and Ferris to her. Alan Ruck is Ferris panic-stricken best friend Cameron, who is filled with self-doubt and really needs to come out of his shell. Ferris know that a day off is what he really needs.

'Ferris Bueller's Day' is a classic and the teen flick that every other one in the genre has to be compared with. The character himself is probably one of the coolest high school students every to grace the silver screen and you will always dream of doing exactly what he does. A classic and don't forget 'Save Ferris'.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented well, especially when you bear in mind that the film was made in 1986.

BONUS FEATURES

Getting the class together - The Cast of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (27.46 mins)
Director John Hughes, casting directors Jane Jenkins and Janet Hirshenson and stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones, Ben Stein, Kirsty Swanson, Richard Edson, Jonathan Schmock, Lyman Ward, Cindy Pickett and Edie McClurg talk about the cast of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. The cast talk about how they got the part and the casting choices for each of the part. Matthew Broderick talks about the role, talking to camera and the connection forged between Mia Sara, Alan Ruck and him on set. With more behind the scenes stories this is a good watch for fans of the film, the only let down been that the interviews with John Hughes and Mia Sara been from 1986.

The Making of Ferris Bueller's Day Off: Production Stories (15.29 mins)
Director John Hughes, producer Tom Jacobson and stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Ben Stein and Edie McClurg talk about making the classic teen comedy. A mix of current and 1986 interviews, the cast and crew discuss making the film and working with John Hughes. We see how the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT cars were recreated using kit cars and getting involved in the Von Steuben parade in Chicago.

Who is Ferris Bueller? (9.13 mins)
Director John Hughes and stars Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Ben Stein and Cindy Pickett talk about creating the classic character and casting the role. We also hear about the talking to camera and creating the friendship between Ferris, Sloane and Cameron.

The World according to Ben Stein (10.52 mins)
The man who coined the phrase "Bueller� Bueller� Bueller�" gives you his outlook on life, show business, fame, George W. Bush and the message of Ferris Bueller.

Vintage Ferris Bueller (10.16 mins)
Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara and Jeffrey Jones have fun back in 1986 in lost tapes recovered for the DVD.

Class Album
View the publicity images taken for the 1986 release

OVERALL

After a feature free initial release, Paramount at last release a proper DVD version of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'. The featurettes are pretty standard but fun, the only let down is the lack of an up to date interview with John Hughes. Fans should enjoy the featurettes however.

DVD

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