As ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ reaches its 30th anniversary next year, it’s fun to think that Ferris is now around 47 years old. He and his girlfriend Sloan are likely navigating the teenage years with their own kids. I recently re-watched the film to see if it still resonates, and to my surprise, it absolutely does! Here are 23 memorable moments I had forgotten about:
- Ferris’s parents, who seem about my age now, are actually pretty chill. He’s not pushing back against awful parents; he’s rebelling against a rigid high school.
- This marks Ferris’s ninth day of faking illness. As he quips, “If I hit ten, I might as well cough up a lung.”
- Reflecting on his elaborate plans (like the lifelike dummy and the recorded snoring), Ferris admits, “It’s a bit childish and foolish. But then again, so is high school.”
- Cameron’s mid-century modern home is absurdly cool—something I find way more interesting now than I did at 13. Fun fact: it sold for a cool million in 2014!
- Interestingly, Ferris doesn’t own a car. He says, “I could be the Walrus, and still need to hitch rides.”
- On Cameron, Ferris remarks, “No way he can go to college all wound up like this. His roommate will strangle him.”
- Edward R. Rooney, the school’s dean, is portrayed by Jeffrey Jones, who also played Emperor Joseph II in Amadeus—can you believe it?
- Mr. Rooney chillingly states, “Just bring me a corpse, and I’ll let Sloan go.”
- His secretary Grace has a quirky habit of sniffing Wite-Out.
- The economics lecture by Ben Stein, known for the “Bueller? Bueller?” line, is surprisingly… intriguing when you’re in your 40s.
- The high school features a myriad of social cliques. Grace notes, “He’s super popular, Ed. The sportos, motorheads, geeks, and even the dweebies adore him.”
- Ferris and Cameron’s back-and-forth, “Why’d you kick me/Where’s your brain?” is pure comedic genius.
- When Cameron reveals that his dad never actually drives the prized Ferrari—he merely polishes it with a diaper—Ferris justifies stealing it by saying, “A guy with such misplaced priorities doesn’t deserve that car.”
- The Ferrari’s license plate reads “NRVOUS,” which is just perfect.
- One of Mr. Rooney’s classic lines is, “I didn’t climb the ranks in life just to let some snot-nosed kid leave my cheese out in the wind.”
- There’s a single moment that hints at the absurdly privileged life Ferris and his friends lead—when he drops the Ferrari off, he asks the attendant, “Do you speak English?” The attendant replies, “What country do you think this is?”
- Edie McClurg’s character greets Ferris’s sister, “Why hello, Jeannie. Who’s bothering you now?”
- Mr. Rooney asks a bartender about the Cubs game, to which the bartender replies, “Nothing-nothing.” Rooney then asks, “Who’s winning?” and the bartender casually says, “The Bears.”
- The garage attendants joyride to the tune of The Empire Strikes Back theme.
- About two and a half minutes into the “Twist and Shout” sequence, a group of dancers suddenly breaks into synchronized moves that resemble the Thriller dance. Wait, what?
- Charlie Sheen shares some wisdom (and kisses Jennifer Grey) in the police station, telling her, “You oughta spend more time focusing on yourself and less on your brother.”
- The final trippy scene of Ferris racing home, including that epic trampoline jump, is unforgettable.
- And the closing credits show Mr. Rooney hitching a ride on a school bus, while a girl with oversized glasses offers him warm gummy bears from her pocket—definitely a surreal ending to Ferris’s day off.
This classic holds up remarkably well after 30 years, reminding me to kick off my shoes, pop in a cassette, and take a break. Life moves quickly; if you don’t pause to take it in, you might just miss the best parts.
For more on navigating parenting and life, check out this post on home insemination. And if you’re interested in artificial insemination, the folks over at Make a Mom have an excellent guide on this topic as well. Additionally, don’t miss this valuable resource on female infertility for more insights.
Summary
Revisiting ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ reveals its timeless charm and humor, showcasing Ferris’s cool parents, his clever schemes, and the unforgettable moments that make the film a nostalgic classic.