Thomas Janke Mr.

Newman Rhetoric 101 16 September 2013 A Stroll Through Life It feels as though watching Ferris Buellers Day Off has become a rite of passage for Chicagoans. A movie that whimsically portrayed teenage plights, set to a Chicago skyline. Directed by John Hughes, the movie stays within the same vein as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, which are primarily focused on the teenage mentality, a strong suit of Hughess work. Unlike Hughess other films, however, critics felt that Ferris Buellers Day Off was too whimsical in its nature, which undermined the value of the morals it presented. The acclaimed Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel both reviewed the film; both felt that the characters were developed nicely and that as a homage to Chicago, the film works well. However, Ebert and Siskel differ in their reviews when it comes to the deliverance of the movies message. Siskel felt that the movie contained too much folly to accurately deliver the message of the movie: That the adventure through Chicago is a ploy by Ferris to get his best friend Cameron to embrace spontaneity and stop living by the rule of his father. While Siskel feels that the movie does not embrace this message until the end, Ebert argues that the message is prevalent throughout the film, but is veiled by the whimsicality of the adventure so as to keep the movie lighthearted. Roger Eberts review of Ferris Buellers Day Off opens with his general praise of the movie as a whole. Saying that the film is a sweet, warm-hearted comedy, Ebert mentions the films ability to sell the scenery of the movie, that is, the city of Chicago. Ebert suggests that if the movie is not a success because of the plot, it works well as a travelogue to Chicago. Ebert then goes on to say that the movie does in fact work as more than just a travelogue, and that through the light-hearted whimsicality of the film itself, the true message of the film shines through. Ebert uses a step-by-step overview of the movies scenes to both inform readers who have never seen the movie, but also to point out the progression of the plot itself from a film about a ditch day to a film that outlines the problems faced by Cameron. Ebert refers to Ferris as a bit of a preacher towards Cameron, but recognizes Ferriss sensitivity to his best friends situation. In contrast to Ebert, Siskel feels that the underlying theme of the movie, that Ferris is trying to help Camerons self-esteem, is far too cryptic to be understood directly. Siskel writes that if this element of Ferris as a teacher had been scattered more frequently throughout the movie, it would be a better film. Siskel felt that the movie did not showcase Hughess talents as a writer-director well enough, suggesting that perhaps he is cranking out movies too quickly. Overall, Siskel has a very different view from Ebert, feeling that the movie failed in its deliverance of the message, in contrast to Ebert. However, both Ebert and Siskel agree that Hughes does a rather good job of developing the characters, and that the homage to Chicago adds to the light-heartedness of the film itself. Though Ebert and Siskel have varying views on the film, both critics agree that Ferris Bueller's Day Off is not the best film from Hughes's collection. Ebert, though overall supportive of the film, felt that Hughes's other works, such as The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles, were

better representations of teenage plight. Siskel too felt this way, commenting on Hughes's anxiousness to get movies out in the open. He felt that Ferris Bueller's Day Off was an overall disappointment in comparison to Hughes's other films, as Ebert did. Though Ebert and Siskel differed in their recommendations of the film, they both had similar views on the same key aspects of the movie, such as the character development, which lend to similar reviews with different recommendations. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is, and will likely continue to be a cult classic for young Chicagoans. Ebert and Siskel, in the end, share differing views of the film as a whole, yet both agree that the film works in an uncanny way by combining a whimsical plot with a heartwarming underlying message. Though it may not go down in history as one of Hughess best works, it certainly captures the feeling of a stroll through Chicago, and for generations of teenagers, the feeling of a stroll through their lives.

Works Cited

Ebert, Roger. "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Review. Chicago Tribune. N.p., 11 June 1986. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.
Siskel, Gene. "'Ferris Bueller' an off day for fun." Review. Chicago Tribune. N.p., 11 June 1986. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.