Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a teen comedy. The only things keeping it from being a children's comedy are the occasional but minor sex references and curse words. But as a comedy, it's done very well. The actor who plays Ferris, Matthew Broderick, has the role down completely, fitting into his character with ease (or at least he makes it look like he does), and giving the lines as though they were the most natural thing in the world. It's like this for most of the characters, who make the film funny through their actions and dialogue instead of relying on bang and buck to pull the audience towards laughter, something that modern day comedies have way too much of. Aside from the great actors, the movie itself is very well organized, keeping the audience just where it wants them. The movie's combination of camera-work, sound, and facial expressions are more than enough to humor just about anyone, and I found myself bursting out laughing so many times just because an actor pulled a certain face when a certain song/piece was playing (then again, I laugh at almost anything).
Aside from a great take on the film, the movie also has its lessons to give. One such lesson is the importance of enjoying life (while still focusing on what's important). The main character, Ferris, is one who seeks out nothing but what there is to enjoy, a mistake that many adolescents make these days, as they ignore or turn away from what matters in where their lives will lead. The other main character, Ferris' friend Cameron Frye (played by Alan Ruck), lives on the opposite end of the spectrum, where he gets almost no enjoyment out of life due to his parents and their abuse towards each other as well as him. This has caused him to also turn away from any forms of enjoyment as he convinces himself that he doesn't deserve any of it, or that enjoyment simply does not exist for him. His internal struggle may relate to other adolescents who feel that their life is being pushed entirely against them, ruining all their chances or happiness or success. It is for this reason that the two friends, Ferris and Cameron, make such an interesting, connectable, and entertaining pair: their near opposite personalities. But despite this, they both find that they need one another... or at least Cameron needs Ferris, because he's the one who changes the most by the end of the movie as Ferris hardly changes at all. Ferris is constantly having fun, playing around, and getting the most out of life while Cameron slumps, mopes, and remains in a constant state of depression. Ferris' charismatic and daring personality is what eventually encourages Cameron to take a stand in his own life and fight for his personal needs of happiness (unfortunately the movie ends before you get to see him act on this).
Overall, the movie is a funny, highly entertaining one to watch, and is highly recommended by me and so many others (I learned of this film through so many positive and delightful reviews I found on various movie review websites) for its hilarity and inner messages. Well done, John Hughes.
Note: the plot was not given away in this review because I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it.
