As summer draws to a close and despondent students return to school, dragging themselves through hallways and classrooms lit with the most unforgiving fluorescent lights, many can’t help but start to count down the days until the next break.
Luckily, Slick Magazine’s newest column, the Reel House, is here to help with an offical list of movie suggestions spanning decades and genres! The 1986 classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” directed by John Hughes, can offer much-needed amounts of vacation fun in only an hour and forty-five minutes. Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck and Mia Sara, “Ferris Bueller” follows three teens as they skip school for a day to go on an adventure into the big city and enjoy their youth.
Hugely quotable and widely beloved by audiences of all ages, this movie is especially perfect for teenagers growing up. It seems to truly understand not only the fun that comes from hanging out with friends, but also the fears and thoughts of many in positions of uncertainty as they creep closer to adulthood.
The chemistry between the three lead actors is the backbone of the film. The friendship between Ferris (Broderick) and Cameron (Ruck) is superbly dysfunctional, mixing realistic dynamics with a heightened sense of comedy, which is only improved upon by Sara’s performance as Ferris’ girlfriend, Sloane.
Beyond this, the filmmaking is also gorgeous; delightfully symmetrical shots of the trio at an art museum not only look fantastic, but also give a deeper meaning to what on the surface appears to be an average teen comedy. Shots of a parade that happens in the movie include the reactions of real-life members of the public, giving the movie a documentary-like feel, creating the sense that these three characters are really best friends who’s good times just happen to be caught on film.
Deceptively meaningful, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” is a gentle reminder to young adults not quite ready to grow up that they should try and live life a little bit more consciously. The Reel House is published every other Wednesday, and make sure to check out the official list of our movie recommendations on Letterboxd!
