Ferris Bueller's Day Off

There are plenty of bad 80s popcorn movies and there are a lot that look dated and daggy in the modern day landscape, which give them a certain nostalgic charm. However, every now and then an 80s popcorn movie comes along that is still as fresh and relevant now as it was back in the day. Ferris Bueller's Day Off, arguably the pick of the John Hughes stable, is one such movie.

Legend has it that Hughes wrote the script for Ferris Bueller's Day Off in 10 days back in 1985. By June 1986 it was one of the top grossing movies of the year and it is still being discovered by teenagers almost three decades later.

I recently had a day off work, which inspired me to write about this movie. While lying on the couch feeling sorry for myself and frantically googling remedies for a sore throat, I had more than one fleeting thought about how much more fun a day off would be if I wasn't really sick and instead I was cruising around Chicago in a 1961 Ferrari.

Matthew Broderick is at his absolute best as Ferris Bueller. It's so hard to imagine anyone else playing this role, and his perfect blend of boyish looks, annoying charm, self-confidence and tongue-in-cheek delivery is what makes this film. This is a wonderful example of a writer tailoring a script to a specific actor and a perfect performance being the result.

Like all good popcorn movies, the plot is very simple and just revolves around Ferris taking the day off school with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and neurotic best buddy Cameron (a 29-year old Alan Ruck). While Sara disappeared into the popcorn movie ether, Ruck went on to a moderate career playing bit parts in the odd movie (I Love You Beth Cooper, Cheaper By The Dozen, Twister and Speed) and is best known as Stewart in Spin City. Jeffrey Jones also puts in a fine turn as the decidedly deranged Dean of Students Edward Rooney who will go to any lengths to catch Ferris in the act of truancy.

Also notable in supporting roles are Jennifer Grey (before her nose job and Dirty Dancing) as Ferris' annoying sister and Charlie Sheen makes a cameo as 'drug addict in police station' (who says life never imitates art?)

This is a movie with plenty of soul and spirit and memorable set pieces that will stay with you long after the final credits roll. From moments of teen angst to fantastical whimsy, slapstick comedy to social commentary, and everything in between, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is worth watching every few years just to freshen your perspective on life and have a good laugh. As Ferris himself says... 'Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!'