Like a soda pop left open all night, Ferris Bueller's Day Off seems to have lost its effervescence over time. Sure, Matthew Broderick is still appealing as the perennial truant, Ferris, who takes one memorable day off from school. Jeffrey Jones is nasty and scheming as the principal who's out to catch him. Jennifer Grey is winning as Ferris' sister (who ends up making out in the police station with a prophetic vision of Charlie Sheen). But there's a definite sense that this film was of a particular time frame: the 80s. It's still fun, though. There's Ferris singing "Twist and Shout" during a Chicago parade, and a lovely sequence in the Art Institute. But don't get it and expect your kids to love it the way you did. Like it or not, it's yours alone. --Keith Simanton, Amazon.com

A classic 80s comedy, and a film very close to my heart. I was at the right age to appreciate it when it was first released, and its been a constant companion ever since. What boy wouldn't want to be Ferris Bueller after watching this?! He takes everything to the extreme, and somehow manages to get away with it.

A brilliantly funny film, with an amzing soundtrack - whats not to like?

Matthew Broderick (war games) stars as Ferris Bueller, a cocky teenager who doesn't want to go to school on a day when the sun is shining and there is so much to explore, and this ideology, I believe, is something that is hidden in all of us.

How many of us wake up in the morning and think, ah the hell with it, I'm skipping school/work today and going exploring, to see sights and enjoy myself! It is something with its consequences, but with so many more personal benefits. Both are explored in a comedy fashion by John Hughes in my personal favourite teenage comedy.

Undoubtedly there are problems when skipping the day of the normal routine, whether that's your jealous sister (Grey) or a paranoid teacher (Jones) and these supporting characters lend such good support and humour to the tale of this mischievous kid.

But what about the benefits? Well not sitting in class, seeing the world and spending time with those you love what more could you want? It is the true meaning of freedom, and the unfortunate boundaries that we have to live in sometimes, and this wouldn't have been justified without such a great central protagonist.

The opening shot of Ferris in the bed pretending to be sick and his parents buying it is funny, and later when he starts addressing the camera, invites us into his world of crazy ideas, intelligence and sophistication, beautifully portrayed by Broderick.

The comedy is great, with a lot of slapstick humour and smart timings and insults thrown in for good merit.

A lot of comedies tend to have a real soppy predictable and clich??d ending and though this 1986 comedy does tail off towards the end there is no soppy romantic clich??s and a great showdown to be admired.

Teenage comedy mean girls is run by stereotypes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is run by a stereotype, but a classic one who we can all relate to, and who we should all take a lesson from.

8/10

I've been watching a number of John Hughes movies ever since I saw The Breakfast Club a few months back. Whilst that was a classic, this movie is anything but.
It is ruined by the most annoying main character/actor I've ever seen. I spent the entire movie looking round the room for things I could throw at the tv and hope to hit 'Ferris Bueller'.
My only remorse came from knowledge of previous movies where such an annoyance either dies, suffers an unfortunate setback or dies.

Sadly none of these things happen and I'm left wishing I'd never seen the classic Breakfast club so I wouldn't have had to watch this.

What can be said that hasn't already been stated? Ferris Bueller's day off has been surgically attached to my brain as the ultimate 'dream' film, which houses everything we could want; romance, comedy, tension, and great acting.

Just to reiterate the plot, Ferris Bueller (played by the wonderful Matthew Brodrick) is the school kid that most of us can only dream of being! Not afraid of anything and a sky-high confidence, he wakes up one morning deciding to make it a '9' on his tally of 'sickies' for bunking off school. This time though, he wants to do something different, and after putting on the acts in front of his loving and truly sweet parents (I envy them - my mum always got annoyed for some reason, but my dad would secretly take me to play football at the park!) the plan goes ahead!

Accompanying him on his plan is his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck), who plays a deep but fantastic role as the typical troubled teenager. For me, this is one of the highlights of the film. We've all been there, but emphasis is only put on puberty since the 70's, mainly because of changes in society and the way this affects us. Cameron is someone even I can relate to, and personal friends; afraid of his dad, afraid of messing up, afraid of life in general.

Feris' girl-friend, Sloane, also gets in on the act when the 2 boys create a rather unique diversion, ringing the school to tell them that Sloane's grandmother suddenly passed away! And so, with them all free, they venture off into the city for an unforgettable day!...

Their are 4 reasons why this ranks as one of my top feel good films of all time. Firstly, the most obvious, its been directed by John Hughes, who for the short lifespan he had directing films, was made up for by sheer quality. A moving soundtrack, excellent camera work, and fantastic script makes this one of his best - he just knows how to tap into your emotions.

The second reason probably applies more now than when it was originally released, and that's that it's aged so well, and is an incredibly refreshing film when compared to todays standards of comedies, or indeed the genre of.. well, feel good, to which I can't even remember when a modern director took the time to release a family film that also has the same effect as films like this from the 80's!

The Third reason is the soundtrack. As you've already read (unless you read this first, to which I'll say i'm VERY flattered!) the songs in this film are fantastic - a collection of tunes that made the 80's, and ones made purposefully for this film. The blend moments of humour (Star Wars sequence) and moments of romance, to that incredibly smooth "Ooooo yeeeah" vocalled song. Apologies for the poor description - thats one of those songs we all know, but can't place the title! It's a shame no CD was released for this soundtrack, but I keep looking anyway.

The fourth and most important reason I love this film is because, like most of the other reviewers here, it's something we've always wanted to do, but never had the guts too. I personally look back at School and wish I had of took more risks, made better decisions, but like Cameron in this film, I fell for the 'worry' syndrome that plagued me for years. Even my mates would bunk and fill me in on how amazing it was. The furthest I got was going to the park during school with friends and drinking cheap French lager during the hot summers... tut tut!

I personally find this film more moving than anything. Like I said, it's based around a dream that we all want - the excitement, the adventure, the suspense of not being caught, the romance of being their with your girlfriend (to which I fancied Ferris' girlfriend for many years!) and best friend. My favourite moment is when they visit the art gallery, and the lovely romantic music blends in, to which the scene ends on Ferris and Sloane kissing in the dark. I personally find that part incredibly touching - childhood sweethearts having the time of their lives :)

If you haven't seen this film, then its simply a MUST if you love feel good films from the 80's, but still containing great humour and youth. I would say its for the 'older' family (ie not kiddies) because younger kids won't appreciate what's going, and what's involved. I just love this film... what more can I say?

I'll never say its right that someone should bunk off school. But I learnt the hard way that you only regret 'one' thing in life, and thats the risks you never took. To which, if I could turn back time, I would have skipped most of my pointless 'P.S.E' lessons (to which were told time and time and time over why ethnic minorities are so wonderful....) and just been brave enough to break away from worry. Ferris Bueller is only a light hearted film, but in anyone who watches it, it'll tap into that parts of them that can only wish. That's what John Hughes does best!

P.S If you like his films, you're probably no doubt aware of the brilliance of 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles', which is a wonderful film.

i can watch this thing over and over again - it rocks more than cheese