Why Ferris Bueller's Day Off Is Still Worth Skiving For, 40 Years On
We’ve all been there. Maybe you had double Food Tech, or a test you really didn’t want to take. Perhaps you wanted to avoid rounders in PE, or an especially annoying teacher.
Or, if you’re anything like I was, you just fancied a day built entirely around the morning and afternoon airings of The Jeremy Kyle Show.
No matter who you are or what generation you’re from, your first phony sick day is as much of a rite of passage as your first steps. It’s this rite of passage, in turn, that forms the basis of one of the best teen movies to ever grace our screens: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Released in 1986, the John Hughes classic turns 40 this year. Technically, the film is old enough to have a divorce, three kids, and a mortgage, but despite being decisively aged, it overflows with youthful energy.
Ultimately, there’s a lot we can learn from Ferris Bueller — and I’m not even talking about that (albeit useful) palm-licking trick. So, if you feel like playing hooky for a little while, sit back, relax, avoid your responsibilities, and keep reading instead.
Ferris Bueller Is a Fourth Wall-Breaking Charmer
Breaking the fourth wall isn’t exactly a new movie technique, but when Ferris makes his razor-sharp observations, it's impossible not to get drawn in by him. Matthew Broderick is, above all else, extremely charming in this movie. He’s witty without trying too hard, arrogant without being annoying about it, and has an unmatched zest for life, which, ironically enough, is almost infectious.
Usually, I hate the audacity of men, but Ferris’ audacity is so bold and unbelievable that you really have to hand it to him. No matter how outlandish his hare-brained schemes are, he always lands on his feet, and as the film goes on, it becomes evident that he has suspiciously good luck. I don’t think I’ve ever seen plot armour as impenetrable as it is in this movie. Whether it’s a close call with his parents or performing in a whole New York parade without getting caught, you think to yourself: “Surely he can’t get away with this,” and yet, he just… does. Seeing him skim and shirk every potential setback never gets repetitive and never fails to be entertaining.
The Film's Supporting Cast Are Great Allies and Foils
Ferris has two main foils in his film: school headmaster Mr Rooney, who is way too excited about the prospect of holding the titular character back a year, and his sister, Jeanie.
It feels like all the bad luck that Ferris avoids ends up falling on Mr Rooney in droves. Much of this bad luck is expressed through good old-fashioned slapstick comedy. If Ferris is easy to root for, Mr Rooney is even easier to root against, with every setback he faces feeling thoroughly deserved. That being said, Grace, his secretary, is nothing short of an icon. She doesn’t have a huge amount of lines, but the ones she has prove to be some of the funniest non-Ferris moments in the whole movie.
Meanwhile, as an eldest daughter myself, I am a little more sympathetic towards Jeanie. Although I stand by everything I said about Ferris’ charm and indomitable spirit, I can’t begin to imagine how annoying it must be to have him as a brother. Honestly, I’d be tearing my hair out too. Her crash-outs are totally valid. Sure, her jealousy and resentment are her main driving forces.
However, even as an antagonist, she still radiates some of that Bueller charm and is consistently hilarious, even though she, as a character, isn’t intending to be. Much of the comedy surrounding Mr Rooney is in the bad things that happen to him, while the comedy surrounding Jeanie is embedded in her wonderfully over-the-top reactions to things.
Of all the characters in the movie, my favourite has to be Cameron. Even though he isn’t the titular star, Ferris’ tightly-wound bestie undergoes the most dramatic change in the film. As Ferris himself says in the movie, nobody needs a day off quite as much as Cameron. The movie’s few dramatic and profound moments center around him as he slowly lets go, learns to enjoy life, and, by the movie’s end, resolves to finally stand up to his abusive father. But amid all this serious stuff, some of his lighter moments, like his legendary Mr/Officer Peterson impressions, are among the funniest in the film. Even funnier, dare I say, than Ferris himself.
While there isn’t an easy resolution to Cameron’s problems, you get the sense that, in the long run, he’s going to be okay. And in a movie like this, that alone is enough to feel satisfied. The day off might not have solved everything, but it's a good start.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off Has the Perfect Runtime
Compared to the length of most movies today, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off feels pretty succinct with a 103-minute runtime. But given it’s meant to take place over the course of one day, this lean runtime actually works quite well. It means that the movie avoids overstaying its welcome and has something of a whirlwind feel as you’re taken through the most ambitious day off anyone has ever had.
While it provides you with a short escape from reality, the film's fast-moving nature also helps underpin an important message: life is fleeting. As Ferris himself says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it.” And honestly? He was on to something.
