"Ferris Bueller, You're My Hero"

It takes a lot for a comedy movie to impress me. I don't go and see comedy movies at the cinema much anymore, preferring to wait until a home video release or TV broadcast. And then the poor thing's gotta stand the test of time. For example, although they're quite similar in their subject matter, Kevin Smith movies age well...Judd Apatow movies do not. So those comedies that have stayed with me for decades are worthy of lifetime achievement awards just for enduring and staying fresh and funny.

One of those few comedies is John Hughes' classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It stars a youthful Matthew Brodrick (before years of marriage to Horseface have taken their toll) who plays the title character; a high school teen who bunks off school with his best chum and girlfriend. Of course, like The Shawshank Redemption, the film's not really about the main guy, but rather his close friend who looks upon his mate in awe; in this case it's Alan Ruck's (who plays Cameron) story. Ferris doesn't really have a character arc. Rather he's the life and soul of the party that affects change in those around him; primarily Cameron and his spiteful sister Jennifer Grey.

It's the sharply defined character's attitudes, the wicked comic timing, the well observed send up of school life and the often surreal humorous interludes which interupt the story which makes this such a joy. The film's many demands are juggled expertly by Hughes...keeping it sweet and serious for more dramatic moments, large and epic for others (the carnival rendition of Twist and Shout is life affirming) while the comedy is often played like a Warner Brothers cartoon...bulging eyes accompanied with a shrieking orchestra. Moments that still shine today include the most boring teacher on Earth, Charlie Sheen's cameo, the nurse-o-gram, Ferris's keyboard samples and frantic race to get home first.

Stealing the show is Jeffery Jones, a gifted and subtle comedy actor, playing the headmaster, Principal Ed Rooney. Every scene he's in, whether it's with his secretary and comedy sidekick Grace (Edie McClurg) or facing an enraged rottweiler, Joneses animated face and sublime comic sensibilities rule. I watched Ferris with my teen nephew and he loved it...well who at that age wouldn't. Cherish those classic comedies people. Cherish them because there aren't that many of them around; never were, never will be....unless you love Meet The Spartans, in which case every comedy movie is a classic comedy movie...