Life moves pretty fast

After setting up this blog nearly a year ago I have realised many things. Writing in any shape or form is harder than I thought it would be, and to be honest I've been very lazy (one post since last August pretty much confirms that fact!) Life and work commitments always seem to get in the way somehow, and I just never seem to find the time to put in that little bit of extra effort to finish a post. This is something I'm hoping to put right going forward due to my love for films and my desire to convey my thoughts into writing. It is not my intention though to try and say anything new or profound about the films I choose, enough will have been said already over the years by other (and probably better) blogs or budding writers, so instead I'm setting out to simply jog some memories. I believe there's nothing better than watching a film you haven't seen for ages and having all those feelings of it come flooding back like memories from a forgotten childhood.

Anyway moving on... We've all been there haven't we? That moment where we wake up in a morning, hit the snooze button on the alarm clock, roll over and think do I really have to get up to go to work (or school as I used to think in my younger days)? What if I just pretend I'm sick so I can take the day off? FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF directed by the late John Hughes is a film where these thoughts are put into motion one fine morning by Ferris Bueller (the excellent Matthew Broderick in arguably his greatest and certainly most recognised / remembered performance). Released in 1986 the film was an instant success and is also arguably John Hughes' finest hour where everything just clicked and came together brilliantly. Back in the 80's John Hughes became the master of teenage movies like The Breakfast Club and Weird Science but he really hit his peak here. The fact he wrote the script in just 6 days is even more impressive.

 

There aren't many films out there that are instantly re-watchable but FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF certainly falls into that category for me. Every time I finish watching it I could easily start it all over again and bask in its comedic genius. Take the first 30 minutes of the film for example, which basically revolves around Ferris relaxing at home while he tries to convince his best friend Cameron to come and pick him up, due to the fact he doesn't own a car (something he reminds us of on numerous occasions). Simple I know, but the way it is executed is nothing short of exceptional and the randomness of certain scenes is inspired.

 

After Ferris has very convincingly persuaded his parents he is sick with his clammy hands trick they leave and he utters the words "They bought it". At this point a super cool MTV logo with rock music bursts into action (I really miss those!), and then the fun begins. Ferris Bueller is just the epitome of coolness and everybody loves him, he's just the kid we all wish we could have been when we were young - cocky and confident. He gleefully tells us that this is his 9th sick day and he'll most likely have to "barf up a lung" if he's to go for 10. It's Broderick's charm and personality that really bring the character of Ferris to life, whether he's quoting John Lennon or explaining his tricks of the trade to faking out the parents, his interaction with us - the audience, is what gives the film its humour and makes it so much fun. The film is basically like a user guide of how to have fun and enjoy yourself.

 

 

Following the at home antics from the first section of the film, and after Ferris has cleverly sprung his girlfriend from school, they embark on a trip to Chicago in a rather nice red 1963 Ferrari GT California that he "borrows" for the day from Cameron's father (he really should have locked the garage). Some of the later scenes aren't quite as much fun and do get a little silly (street parade anyone?)  but overall Hughes keeps things flowing along very nicely by keeping us exceptionally entertained along the way. He also had an excellent taste for music as the soundtrack throughout is excellent, and even has time to squeeze in a few bars of the Star Wars theme music for good measure. We even get some unexpected soul searching, after Cameron's excess mileage on the Ferrari breakdown (his father memorises it and never drives it), with typical dilemma's of what will happen to us when we leave high school? What will we do with the rest of our lives when we grow up? We also get a lesson in how to stand up to ultra strict parents, but I think sending your Fathers  pride and joy Ferrari through a glass window into a ravine (although brilliant) is probably not recommended.

 

 

I think the reason I'm so fond of this film is that it reminds me of being young, when you don't have a care in the world, no responsibilities and all you want to do is go out and have fun. This was a time of my life I remember with great fondness and now as I get older I appreciate it more. Lets face facts, getting old just isn't as much fun and life just seems to become more mundane, monotonous and boring the older we get. Everyday life becomes pretty much the same - we get up, go to work, come home, go to sleep and repeat these same actions on a daily basis. Every time I watch FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF it reminds me that even though life can be mundane and hard sometimes we just have to make the most of it and go along for the ride. Our lives are very much what we make of them and there are always highs as well as lows, and good days as well as bad days, but one thing that life should never be is boring. FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF always reminds me of this and makes me remember to have more fun. If I'm ever feeling sad or down this is the film I'll watch to cheer me up. It's just infectious and an absolute riot, it also never fails to put a smile on my face. Not too much more to say really so I'll end with Ferris's own words: "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it". How right he is...

 

 

 You still here? It's over. Go.