This is a film that has aged well-- rather better than most of its viewers, in fact (take a look around your office). Indeed, "Ferris" continues to amuse and entertain precisely because all of us, whether we admit it or not, still want to identify with the victories of the hero and his friends over the adults we have long since become. Or perhaps already were in 1986...
Beyond the steadily successful development of its plot-driven (or maybe "plot"-driven) situational humor, "Ferris" impresses as a film of wonderful isolated moments; many of these have drawn well-deserved praise-- Ben Stein now *defines* the classic feckless teacher for a generation, and Charlie Sheen (appearing unbilled) managed an inspired James Dean homage for the 80's kids to guess the origins of-- but some have (apparently) escaped general notice. Has there ever been a better, more believable Irritable Best Friend character than that created in Alan Ruck's sulking-Cameron scenes? Or consider Richard Edson ("Joey Breaker", "Do the Right Thing") as the swarth-enhanced parking garage attendant; when Ferris asks "Do you speak English?", Edson simply masterfully doles out incredulity via a raised eyebrow and the now-classic response (today so daringly un-PC) "What country do you think this *is*?"
Briefly put, "Ferris" continues to do credit to all who created and appeared in it--and rewards the home viewer over multiple screenings. The fact that this film has drawn a paltry 2 1/2-star rating from a standard (and usually reliable) source such as Maltin remains a Bermuda Triangle-sized anomaly...
Beyond the steadily successful development of its plot-driven (or maybe "plot"-driven) situational humor, "Ferris" impresses as a film of wonderful isolated moments; many of these have drawn well-deserved praise-- Ben Stein now *defines* the classic feckless teacher for a generation, and Charlie Sheen (appearing unbilled) managed an inspired James Dean homage for the 80's kids to guess the origins of-- but some have (apparently) escaped general notice. Has there ever been a better, more believable Irritable Best Friend character than that created in Alan Ruck's sulking-Cameron scenes? Or consider Richard Edson ("Joey Breaker", "Do the Right Thing") as the swarth-enhanced parking garage attendant; when Ferris asks "Do you speak English?", Edson simply masterfully doles out incredulity via a raised eyebrow and the now-classic response (today so daringly un-PC) "What country do you think this *is*?"
Briefly put, "Ferris" continues to do credit to all who created and appeared in it--and rewards the home viewer over multiple screenings. The fact that this film has drawn a paltry 2 1/2-star rating from a standard (and usually reliable) source such as Maltin remains a Bermuda Triangle-sized anomaly...