Re-Thinking Ferris
From “Get Over ‘Ferris Bueller,’ Everyone” at The Atlantic:
I grew up in a place not unlike Ferris’s tony North Shore suburb. Naturally, I dreamed about cutting class and zipping around Chicago in a 1961 Ferrari 250GT California. I’m just not sure every kid shared, or even had the means to share, my fantasy. This is the myth of Ferris Bueller. It’s portrayed as a universal story, when it’s really not.
I’m a fan of the late John Hughes, but Alan Siegel makes some strong points about why this movie should be more troubling than revered.
Via The Morning News
June 14th, 2011 at 10:37 am
I think that Alan Siegel doesn’t get the point of “Ferris Bueller”. Ferris is a bit of a rascal, but he is primarily a fantasy figure. Ferris isn’t presented as a flawless character, just one who has great luck and charm, able to finesse his way out of scrapes by his wits. He has a charmed life, with the beautiful girlfriend, lovely home, and tons of confidence. His only conflicts come from his sister and the principal. The story is completely unrealistic, as fantasies are. Who hasn’t wanted to have that one “perfect day” when they can avoid responsibility and have fun doing whatever comes to mind? Wouldn’t almost everyone love to be the center of attention on a parade float once in their life? Is Ferris “admirable”? Not especially, but he isn’t meant to be. As one of the commentators on the article wrote: “He’s Reynard the Fox, he’s Brer Rabbit, he’s a lucky trickster who will never get his comeuppance.”
I think it is ok to love this movie, even if you normally don’t approve of skipping school, faking illness, going on joyrides, or pretending to be someone else at a restaurant.