8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.4 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Ferris Bueller is a popular high school student living in an affluent Chicago suburb. After convincing his parents that he is truly sick, Ferris calls on his friend Cameron to join him for a day of hooky from school. Cameron agrees, reluctantly, because it means taking his father's prized classic 1961 red Ferrari 250 GT convertible. They pick up Ferris's girlfriend head for adventure in downtown Chicago—all the while trying to outsmart and outrun the dean of students who has become wise to Ferris' plan.
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer GreyComedy | 100% |
Teen | 45% |
Coming of age | 40% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
French/Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 @224 kbps
English, English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
How could I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?
The movie that made skipping school, lying to parents, and beating up the principal cool, funny, and
even touching, Ferris Bueller's Day Off remains one of the quintessential Comedies from
the 1980s and features career-defining performances from several of its actors. Ditching school for
more than 20 years now, Ferris Bueller's Day Off hasn't aged a day, the film still as
witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and magical as it was in 1986. Though centered around disreputable
actions, the film remains tongue-in-cheek in its presentation, never advocating the laundry list of
lies and deceit that populate the film. It's all done with an obvious wink and a nod, with class and
plenty of humor, though no doubt Ferris' step-by-step "fake out the parents routine" (don't
forget to lick those palms!) has inspired and helped many high school students to play hookey, but
who doesn't need a well-deserved day off every now and then, especially in Chicago with those
glorious day games at the Friendly Confines?
Oh yeah...
Ferris Bueller's Day Off skips onto Blu-ray with a nice-looking 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer. The movie shows its age but is generally nice to look at, neither excelling nor faltering in any one spot. There are speckles and spots galore to be seen on the print throughout the movie, not to mention a few scratches, though they are never too terribly intrusive. A bit of grain is also present. Colors are strong and vibrant throughout, the scenes inside the school's packed hallways with the orange lockers and the many-colored clothes worn by the student body offer a broad range of blues, reds, and other bright colors that saturate the screen and bring even more life to the film. Of course, the red Ferarri sparkles, the car never looking better here than it does on any other home video version. The interior is visibly plush, too, almost enough to imagine the sensation of sinking into its brown leather seats. Detail is sufficient across the board. The porous Detroit Red Wings Gordie Howe Jersey Cameron wears and the odds and ends scattered about Ferris' bedroom, for example, provide plenty of texture and visible information. Facial detail looks a bit flat and smooth, but nonetheless acceptable. Flesh tones sometimes look a bit ghastly but certainly never veer towards the red end of the spectrum. The film rarely sees a dark moment, so blacks aren't much of an issue. Overall, Ferris Bueller's Day Off isn't the best looking Blu-ray in existence, but it certainly isn't the worst, and the film easily looks better than ever on this release.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off twists and shouts onto Blu-ray with a surprisingly effective Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This lossless presentation borders on being a revelation; it offers far more clarity, definition, small details, and a sense of space that seemed lacking on previous home video editions of the film. The influx of popular music heard throughout the film, beginning almost immediately once Ferris is left alone at home and through to the end of the movie (including the famous "Twist and Shout" sequence), plays with a clarity and presence that brings the film to new sonic life. All songs feature crisp highs, a solid midrange, and positive, sufficient lows. The subwoofer never rumbles, but it doesn't have to in the context of the movie. The low end is presented with just the right amount of heft to support the track rather than dominate it. The track also reveals subtle sound effects that may have been lost in the shuffle on previous releases -- cars moving down the street in the far background, the sounds of baseball at Wrigley Field, and ambient crowd noise during the famed "Twist and Shout" parade scene -- engulf the listener quite effectively. Dialogue, too, is delivered clearly and at an adequate volume. It's a very good overall experience considering the age of the film, and Paramount has done a fine job in bringing this soundtrack to Blu-ray.
Dubbed the "Bueller...Bueller...Edition," this Blu-ray release of Ferris Bueller's Day Off isn't absent special features, but it certainly doesn't earn an A+ for quantity, either. Getting the Class Together -- The Cast of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (480p, 27:45) takes a fairly interesting and strong look at the assembly of the cast, told through both classic and retrospective interviews. The Making of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (480p, 15:29) is another piece the combines both classic and retrospective interviews that this time look at the making of several scenes in the film, accompanied by behind-the-scenes photographs and clips from the movie. Who is Ferris Bueller? (480p, 9:12) looks at the qualities that define the film's title character, told through interview clips and film footage. Moving along, The World According to Ben Stein (480p, 10:51) features the actor looking at his career and the importance of Ferris Bueller's Day Off in his life. Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes (480p, 10:16) features actors Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, and Jeffrey Jones discussing odds and ends about their experiences in making the film. Finally, Class Album is a gallery of photographs related to the film.
Arguably Director John Hughes' (Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, The Breakfast Club) best film, Ferris Bueller's Day Off remains a Comedy classic that never wears out its welcome. It tells a story that remains, seemingly, forever relevant, commenting on the unending war between teenager and boredom at school and teenage rebellion. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the film's coming-of-age theme that defines one character and shows that some of life's best lessons are learned outside the classroom. Also featuring wonderful acting, including several career-defining performances, and too-numerous-to-count memorable lines and situations, Ferris Bueller's Day Off resides among the best the Comedy genre has to offer. Paramount has done right by the film's Blu-ray releasing, providing a good video transfer, a surprisingly robust and clear soundtrack, and a few extras. Ferris Bueller's Day Off comes highly recommended.
Bueller...Bueller...Edition / 25th Anniversary Commemorative Packaging
1986
Paramount 100th Anniversary
1986
Paramount 100th Anniversary
1986
Bueller... Bueller... Edition
1986
Bueller...Bueller...Edition
1986
1986
1986
1986
1986
1986
30th Anniversary Edition
1985
Remastered
1984
1982
1987
2004
25th Anniversary Edition
1987
1985
2009
The Flashback Edition
1998-2007
2016
1999
1981
20th Anniversary Limited Edition Packaging
2004
2006
Unrated and Cream-Filled
2008
1992
Choice Collection
2001
2015
Extended Survival Edition
2008
Fully Exposed Edition
2009