Showing posts with label John Hughes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Hughes. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986)

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

High school student Ferris Bueller has a brutal life: attractive girlfriend who likes him, supportive parents who love him, a dead squirrel admiring him outside his bedroom window, a laid back high school where the entire student body thinks that "he's a righteous dude", best friend who lets him drive his dads vintage Ferrari, a nice house in a peaceful neighborhood, a cool stereo with those awesome little lights that move up and down…this motherfucker needs a day off!  So, he fakes being sick and his parents buy it.  Now he has the entire day off.  Fin.

I have many thoughts on Ferris Bueller and his eventful day off.  Everything from he kinda reminds me of a younger version of fictional serial killers Patrick Bateman and Dexter Morgan to Mia Sara would've been great in the previous years FRIGHT NIGHT, but it's probably best if I just keep it simple and say…FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF is a fun film as long as you don't look into it too deeply or take it too serious.

An insane amount of plot holes, quick pace, a post-end credits scene, GODZILLA 1985 and TEEN WOLF playing at the movie theater, wastoids, The Sausage King of Chicago, tons of great Chicago (and Los Angeles) locations, interesting soundtrack, dweebies, a nurse who's concerned about your pluck, ancient electronics, sluts, great cast full of now iconic characters.  In short, FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF is mandatory viewing for anybody interested in 1980's American Cinema. If you don't believe me just take my best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend's word for it.

If you need me, I'm gonna go sunbathe in the backyard while facing away from the Sun and then go pass out at 31 Flavors. Maybe even barf up a lung.

Monday, March 6, 2017

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION (1989)

"Merry Christmas. Shitter was full."

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION is probably the greatest Christmas movie of all time (despite the fact the story ends on Christmas Eve).

This year, instead of driving all over the place, the Griswolds decide to stay at home for the holidays, so, of course, that means plenty of eggnog, multiple uninvited guests, pissed off neighbors, a kidnapping, 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights and dozens of fantastic quotable lines.  I've seen NLCV so many times, I can probably quote the whole movie.

Clark Griswold is at his best when he's stressed out and in this film he's definitely stressed out!  Worried about his Christmas bonus and overwhelmed with troublesome relatives, Clark is about to lose his mind, so it's probably not the greatest idea of all time to single-handedly cover his house in 250 strands of lights...but he does it anyway and the rest is movie history.

Quick pace, a re-watchability rating that's off the scale, a squirrel...excuse me, I mean "SQUIRREL!", tree sap, nippley weather, perfect acting by a truly impressive cast, a dog with a sinus condition, a gigantic Christmas tree, tons of laughs, a FRIDAY THE 13TH reference, yuppie neighbors and some asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer.

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION is mandatory viewing.  I even have it saved on my phone so I can have it with me everywhere I go.

Part 1 - National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Part 2 - National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
Part 4 - Vegas Vacation (1997)
Part 5 - Vacation (2015)