If you want to talk about a movie that is so very simple yet enjoyable, you’ve come to the right place. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an effortless, fun, feel-good film that makes many of us want to rewind to the optimistic and colorful days of the 80s, but also go out and live spontaneously. Ferris Bueller is also underrated-ly iconic, with numerous fourth wall breaks, notable scenes often recreated or referenced throughout other films, and being one of the earlier and most prominent examples of the now-common post-credits scene.
Nonetheless, this simple wonder is one of my many comfort films, and will always cheer you up, thanks to Ferris Bueller (shown above to the far right). Ferris’ joy exudes through you as you watch him skip a day of high school, and adventure through a sunny day in Chicago. His outlook, which may seem dishonest or exploitative to some, is something I try to live by because like Cameron Frye (shown below to the far left), I too am often caught up in the harshness of life.
Now, there will be slight spoilers ahead, but it’s difficult to spoil this film as the plot is relatively straightforward: a high school student named Ferris Bueller skips school with his best friend Cameron, and girlfriend Sloane Peterson (shown above in middle), and we follow the adventure the trio has in Chicago on that day. But this short summary is not what the film is conveying to the audience, it is rather the instrument utilized by director John Hughes. There’s a lot to love about Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, many hidden meanings and messages, but for me, I love its most obvious and underlined message; to live in the moment, without regret.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is unique in this message, as in the first and last 5 minutes of the movie, we are reminded of the same, infamous quote, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it” (if you haven’t heard this quote or seen it in a high school senior yearbook, that’s just crazy). In most movies, we understand and perceive the primary message through our main character. They typically face challenges, learn from them, and eventually realize this message at the end of the film. In Ferris’ case, he doesn’t change at all throughout the film. Ferris stays exactly the same and even tells you right after you watch the opening credits roll, what he wants you to take away from this cinematic experience. This makes Ferris Bueller’s Day Off particularly compelling because instead of just showing, or just telling, like most movies, it does both. Ferris begins by telling you his provocative philosophy, showing how he lives by it, and then telling you again to try and live by his ideal.
Ferris not only teaches us this lesson but his best friend Cameron, who is essentially the audience embodied into a character in the movie. Cameron doesn’t want to skip school and adventure; he reluctantly gets out of bed. Even when he does skip, he is discontent and regrets his decision at times, wondering why Ferris dragged him along. But, by the end of the day, he understands what Ferris was attempting to show him the entire time they ditched school. Cameron is instead the one who changes by the end of the film, yet he is not the main character and is barely even present in the final 15 minutes. We are Cameron, and Cameron is us.
Many of us admire Ferris’ for his relaxed and carefree lifestyle, but most of us better relate to Cameron. That said, the real Ferrises of the world are still important as they often remind us to live in the moment, that most of what we do, what we’re scared of, and what we think about is just bullshit. Yet, there is still beauty in the bullshit. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a warm reminder to be yourself and step back every once in a while. Step out of your comfort zone. Break some rules. And most importantly, have fun.
Image Sources:
I absolutely love this movie, and appreciate your analysis. I am actually named after Cameron – my parents were between Ferris and Cameron, so I suppose they thought I wasn’t cool enough to rock the Ferris moniker (which I guess is true to some extent). In a way, we are all Cameron – we want to do these grandiose and extraordinary things, but by setting these expectations sky-high we tend to get caught up in the moment, and become stuck in a phenomenon I refer to as ‘analysis paralysis’.
I love Ferris Bueller’s Day Off! I did not give it a fair chance the first time I watched it, turning it off in the first 15 minutes. But one day my sister and I sat down to watch the movie and realized why it had hype. It is such a feel-good movie that resonates with everyone. You provided insightful analysis on what Cameron represents and how the movie communicates its message. Great post!
My friend Angie is trying so hard to get me to watch this movie. I genuinely think it is in her top 10 of all time– and this is from a person who consumes content like a vacuum cleaner. Between your recommendation and hers, I have got to check it out. I especially love the famous impressionist painting; I feel like most of us have pondered that one for a while, at one point or another. I certainly find myself being too much of a stick in the mud, at times, so I have a feeling that this movie is for me.