As we’ve now reached the milestone of it being 35 years since Ferris Bueller had his memorable day off, we’ve also reached a point where there’s a new generation that may not be overly familiar with the classic tale of a high school student who chooses to embrace life on a beautiful day, even if it means skipping out on school by not so honest means. Technology has also greatly advanced since this film was made, so while Ferris would no doubt still prefer to avoid the classroom, would he be able to avoid detection as successfully today? And with that thought in mind, does that also mean the film may not hold up as well as it did all those years ago? Before delving into that, let’s take a look at the awesome – very fitting – Steelbook that Paramount has graced fans with for this anniversary release!
The case is a beautiful white colour that matches the majority of posters and advertising that the film has had over the years. The front has Ferris leaning back inside Cameron’s father’s coveted car with that carefree look on his face that fans of the film are accustomed to at this point. It’s a simple, clean design that fits the movie and 35 year anniversary release perfectly.
Opening the case up and the design team smartly just continued on from the cover, with Ferris’ feet kicked up on the other side of the car with no need to add any lines or excess designs from the film. It helps create a really nice, fluid visual for the case that fans can be happy to add to their collections.
The inside captures the perfect image from the film, with Ferris, Cameron and Sloane at the museum. The image just works so well for the space within the case, and the amount going on within it is a nice juxtaposition to the case’s simpler exterior. As a whole, this is just a great Steelbook across the board, so kudos to the design team on the choices made.
Getting back to my initial question as to whether or not the film holds up just as well today, the answer is a resounding yes. While Ferris wouldn’t be able to dance on a float with the entire city of Chicago without having videos plastered all over social media, and while he wouldn’t be able to sneak into a fancy restaurant because the host could simply Google you to confirm you’re not “the Sausage King of Chicago,” none of that matters because it’s the meaning behind all these grand gestures that counts, and not the craziness itself.
Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) is an incredibly smart, savvy high-school student who just doesn’t want to see a beautiful day go to waste. And for all his seemingly selfish intentions to use his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to gain access to Cameron’s father’s 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder so that he, his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) can travel around town in style while doing whatever he wants, Ferris really just wants to have a big, memorable day with the people that he loves before they likely go their separate ways once college begins.
There’s also a lot of heart to the film, with Ferris clearly wanting Cameron to learn to stand on his own two feet so that he doesn’t unknowingly fall in love with the first woman who shows him any sort of attention, inevitably leading him to end up in a loveless marriage like the one’s his parents share. While Ferris explains this to the audience through some breaking of the fourth wall, it shows that while Ferris does want to avoid school and does want his perfect plan to avoid any and all detection from authority figures to go off without a hitch, above all he wants what’s best for his best friend.
I’ve recently reviewed some John Hughes film’s such as Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful, which are based in a more realistic setting than Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Ferris falls in line with other Hughes films such as Home Alone and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, where they’re almost larger than life in the world they create. The fact that throughout the film there’s a running joke to “Save Ferris,” as he starts a rumour that he may need a new kidney – even though he also says he’ll be fine by the weekend – is hilarious stuff. I mean, “Save Ferris” is even on the marquee at Wrigley Field. It’s ridiculous, but never feels out of place because that’s just the type of world the film takes place in.
So if you’re a fan of the film and a Steelbook collector then purchasing this is a no-brainer, as it’s just perfectly Bueller in its presentation. If you’ve yet to watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off then know that you’re missing out on a film that’ll take you back to how life was in the mid-80s, where nobody had a cell phone out and computers were just emerging so social media wasn’t even a thought. It’s a blast from the past that still works perfectly today because it’s the story of a rebellious teen who’s out to beat the system and boredom that’s timeless.
Blu-ray Video and Audio Review
The film still looks good, and this 1080p transfer does the job of keeping the film looking fairly fresh throughout. While it’s the same visually as the Blu-ray release back in 2009, it still does the trick and is never overly aged or grainy to the point of distraction. It’s clear it’s a movie that was made 35 years ago, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The audio is also the same as its 2009 counterpart, which sounds great with its Dolby True HD 5.1 lossless track. The dialogue is clean and clear, the music cranks up nicely when it kicks in and the sound effects and overall mix just comes through really nicely. As a whole, if you have the previous Blu-ray release don’t expect anything new and know that this purchase is solely for the top notch Steelbook casing.
Special Features:
Getting the Class Together – This is a nearly 28-minute feature that sees the cast and various members of the crew looking back at the film. The piece has both more recent interviews (well, recent when these were released in 2009), as well as ones taken back closer to when the film was released. It’s a great piece that fans will definitely want to check out if you have yet to do so.
The Making of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – This is a feature that’s a bit over 15-minutes in length and has again, old school interviews mixed with ones of the characters looking back on their work retrospectively. Another fun feature for fans that delves into certain scenes and how they came together.
Who Is Ferris Bueller? – This piece is just over 9-minutes in length and sees the same cast and crew talk about what makes Ferris the type of character that’s stood the test of time, and why the film works so well because of him.
The World According to Ben Stein – This is an 11-minute feature that sees the actor talk about how Ferris has affected his life.
Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes – This is a 10-minute feature that’s a lot of fun. We get to see Broderick, Ruck, Sara and Jeffrey Jones all talking about making the film through old videos. All are great features that fans will really enjoy.
Paramount Pictures Presents Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Lyman Ward, Edie McClurg. Running time: 103 Minutes. Rating: PG. Steelbook Blu-ray Released: June 8, 2021.
About Brendan Campbell
