BY RICK JACKSON
From The Heritage Newspaper on June 18, 1986: my review of Ferris Bueller's Day Off which will be shown at The Screening Room in Kingston, Ontario on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
Matthew Broderick is terrific in his new movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In it, he plays a 17-year-old student who fakes an illness so he can have a day off school. Written and directed by John Hughes (Pretty In Pink), Ferris is inspired lunacy. Halfway through the film, you may want to pinch yourself to see if you are not daydreaming. You may even find yourself wishing you could be like the title character.
Unlike his performance in last year's Ladyhawke, Broderick's comic timing works better here. When he turns to the camera and addresses the audience, you can't help but giggle. In one of the funniest sequences, he interrupts a German-American parade and lipsynchs Wayne Newton's Danke Schoen, and The Beatles' Twist And Shout.
Alan Ruck turns in a fine supporting role as Cameron Frye, Ferris's best friend. He's a rich kid who is afraid of everything. When Ferris takes the 1961 red Ferrari that belongs to Cameron's father, Cameron is paralyzed with fear. His elastic face is reminiscent of Stan Laurel.
In other roles, Mia Sara (Legend) plays the beautiful Sloane Peterson and Jennifer Grey stars as Jeanie, Ferris' sister. Jeffrey Jones is Dean Rooney, the high school principal who tries to catch Ferris.
Ira Newborn's music score features a bizarre blend of classical music and jazz. Listen for The Star Wars theme in the second half.
Well directed by Hughes, Ferris Bueller's Day Off appeals to the kid in all of us. Don't miss it.
It is rated PG/Parental Guidance, with the warning: coarse language.
June 18, 1986
Copyright Rick Jackson 1986
