Uncle Buck (1989)

Bachelor and all-round slob Buck babysits his brother's rebellious teenage daughter and her cute younger brother and sister.

Director:

John Hughes

Writer:

John Hughes

Stars:

John Candy, Macaulay Culkin, Jean Louisa Kelly

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Candy	...	Buck Russell
Jean Louisa Kelly	...	Tia Russell
Gaby Hoffmann	...	Maizy Russell (as Gaby Hoffman)
Macaulay Culkin	...	Miles Russell
Amy Madigan	...	Chanice Kobolowski
Elaine Bromka	...	Cindy Russell
Garrett M. Brown	...	Bob Russell
Laurie Metcalf	...	Marcie Dahlgren-Frost
Jay Underwood	...	Bug
Brian Tarantina	...	E. Roger Coswell
Mike Starr	...	Pooter-the-Clown
Suzanne Shepherd	...	Mrs. Hogarth
William Windom	...	Mr. Hatfield (voice)
Dennis Cockrum	...	Pal
Joel Robinson	...	Miles' Friend #1

Storyline

As an idle, good-natured bachelor, Uncle Buck is the last person you would think of to watch the kids. However, during a family crisis, he is suddenly left in charge of his nephew and nieces. Unaccustomed to suburban life, fun-loving Uncle Buck soon charms his younger relatives Miles and Maizy with his hefty cooking and his new way of doing the laundry. His carefree style does not impress everyone though - especially his rebellious teenage niece, Tia, and his impatient girlfriend, Chanice. With a little bit of luck and a lot of love, Uncle Buck manages to surprise everyone in this heartwarming family comedy.

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Plot Keywords:

twin | watching tv | character name as title | man wears eyeglasses | heart attack | 

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Taglines:

OH NO! IT'S...

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Uncle Buck

Filming Locations:

Wheeling, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,794,501, 20 August 1989

Gross USA:

$66,758,538

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$79,258,538

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Hughes Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One night during filming, John Candy went to a bar with Music Supervisor Tarquin Gotch, and spent most of the night there meeting people. The next day, John Hughes heard a caller on a radio talk show excitedly describe his evening with Candy. Hughes was upset with Candy, and despite Candy's assertion that Buck was supposed to appear disheveled, Hughes cancelled his scenes for the day, and told him to get himself together and get some sleep.

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Goofs

When the next door neighbor comes over to entertain Uncle Buck, we see a tone arm drop on the 45 RPM record... notice the label.. it's the old UNI label (70s Neil Diamond, late 60s Strawberry Alarm Clock) but, when the record start playing, it's the Beau Brummels' classic "Laugh, Laugh" that we hear, a song that was NEVER released (or for that matter re-released) on the UNI label.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Tia: Get your bag off the table, people eat there.
Maisey Russell: People eat off of plates.
Tia: Don't give me any crap, Maizy.

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Crazy Credits

When the movie finishes, John Candy's voice yells "Wake up!", followed by the sound of an air horn and John laughing.

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Alternate Versions

Scenes from Maisy's classroom are edited from TV-versions.

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Connections

Referenced in Continue?: Continue? Holiday Special 2012 (2012)

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Soundtracks

SLOWDOWN
Written by James Mitchell
Performed by Flesh for Lulu
Under license from CEMA Special Markets, Capitol Records, Inc.

User Reviews

sweet as Candy

I agree with chapwithwings regarding John Candy vs Chris Farley & John Belushi. John Candy always had a sweetness about him that was obvious in any movie I ever saw him in & even though his comedy was sometimes a little over the top he was still more consistently funny than either Farley or Belushi. He could be laugh out loud funny but so vulnerable that you couldn't help but love him even though he was usually a bit of loser. I just saw Uncle Buck again today. It is one of my favourites along with Planes, Trains & Automobiles. I forgot how impossibly cute Macaulay Culkin & Gaby Hoffman were and Jean Louisa Kelly was totally believable as the angry young teen. I just really love a feel good movie & this is one.