After months of cold weather and cloudy skies it seems like spring may finally be upon us (fingers crossed.) But as long awaited as this arrival was, the beautiful weather has a tendency to do the opposite of motivate us, which could prove dangerous as finals approach. Suddenly the idea of basking in the sun on Old Main Lawn seems much more appealing than sitting in a classroom for a couple of hours. Everyday seems to require a little more effort to get to class, making it safe to say that all we want is day off to just enjoy the sunshine.
In an attempt to cope with this daily internal struggle, it is appropriate to live vicariously through movie characters who have the luxury of taking a day off with no consequences. John Hughes' 1986 film
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a perfect example of a film that allows us to do just this in classic 80's movie style. Starring Matthew Broderick, this film is about exactly what its title suggests; high school senior Ferris Bueller decides that he simply needs a day off of school to enjoy an adventure with his friends.
After an elaborate plot to make his absence excusable, Ferris rounds up his best friend Cameron and girlfriend Sloane to take on the day in Chicago rather than deal with another monotonous day at school. Throughout their day, the trio manage to see a baseball game, visit both the Sears Tower and the Art Institute of Chicago, sneak their way into a fancy restaurant, and even catch themselves in a flashmob parade.
Hughes keeps the plot simple by providing little conflict within the characters themselves. Ferris has no qualms about skipping school as he has deemed it necessary to take a mental health day and sees any possible consequences as trivial. The only one with an objection to the plan is Cameron, although Ferris is quick to establish Cameron as uptight and a prime example as to why a day off is so paramount in the first place. The only force in opposition to the kids is the school principal and Ferris' sister, who are not fooled by the scheme. As Ferris and his friends run around Chicago, a number of close encounters with those trying to stop them keep the film's action moving as the kids must avoid getting in trouble at all costs.
In its classic 80's romantic comedy style, the film is overly ideal in that the kids are able to get away with so much at little to no consequence. While it is easy to see dismiss this as one of the movie's flaws, doing so would hinder the viewer from understanding the whole point Hughes was trying to make.
Ferris Bueller is not a movie that delves into its characters in order to discover something deeper about human nature. It is simply a romantic comedy that exists to be lighthearted and funny. In doing so, the film gives an alternate reality in which to allow ourselves to take our day off without actually doing so.
