A review by Mike Shea Movie Rating: ( * * * * * ) DVD Rating: ( * * * * * )
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The third movie of my personal Chicago trilogy (along with Blues Brothers and Risky Business), John HughesFerris Buellers Day Off is one of the best teenage movies of the 80s. I first saw this movie in summer camp about 13 years ago and have loved it ever since. Ferris Buellers Day Off is an instruction manual for playing hookie from school including everything from detailed instructions for faking out the parents to a full featured tour of Chicago. Matthew Broderick does an excellent job of playing the immortal Ferris Bueller, but the real steal is Jeffrey Jones as Ed Rooney, the elitist principal who ends up a broken man holding gummy bears on a school bus. The movie is full of excellent imagery from the Star Wars race of the Ferarri to the beautiful scene at the Art Institute. The DVD is very good with a 16x9 enhanced 2.35 to 1 aspect ratio, a 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack and a directors commentary with the legendary John Hughes (of Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Chrismas Vacation and Home Alone fame). This is an icon movie of the 80s and the DVD does a great job preserving this landmark film.