It’s classic film. So classic in fact that I’d argue you haven’t really grown up in the States unless you’ve witnessed the glorious day of hookie-playing that is John Hughes’ 1980’s staple Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The ultimate teenage fantasy movie the film follows Ferris (Matthew Broderick) his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sarah) and his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) as they narrowly escape the clutches of the dreaded high school principal Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) so they can enjoy the most unrealistically fantastic existential ditch day known to (teenage) man. And if you skipped past that because duh you grew up on this movie and totally tried to pull the “lick your palms” fake sick day move on your parents more than once you’re probably already typing your credit card numbers into Amazon.com so you can obtain your own high-def copy of the flick.
The film’s Blu-ray iteration certainly gives the aged film a little extra gloss but it’s not like the movie wasn’t already timeless. Chicago shines in 1080p and so do Sloane’s ever-present pouty expressions but finding this coming-of-age classic in high-def isn’t the real reason to pick up the Blu-ray. (Besides you probably already have a copy on your DVD shelf.)
The factor that makes this edition worth the extra cash are features that give us little moments with writer and director John Hughes via interviews he gave back in 1986. It’s like he knew there’d be an anniversary Blu-ray 25 years later. Sure these quotable videos are spliced in between the film’s actors reflecting back on the 1986 movie and waxing poetic about Bueller’s childlike brilliance but it’s always fun to see the stark difference between our favorite stars in their primes and their current ages — especially Jennifer Grey with her unrecognizable nose job. We also find members of the cast interviewing eachother in a little feature called Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes and a whole feature dedicated to Ben Stein which is only fair considering the number of times movie fans use his famous line (“Bueller…Bueller…Bueller”). Sadly the only trace of Charlie Sheen’s brilliant bit part as the alluring rebel in the police department is in the film itself — Sheen couldn’t spare a moment between getting kicked off Two and a Half Men and going on benders with porn stars to give us a little perspective on Jeanie Bueller’s (Grey) police station makeout.
The contents of the anniversary Blu-ray certainly won’t blow your mind but it’s a good buy for any movie-lover and anyone who ever went through high school for that matter.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 25th Anniversary edition hits shelves August 2.
