The Long Awaited Number Five

After much self reflection, internal debate, and the questioning of random citizens in Target, I am finally ready to announce the fifth pick on my list of My Five Favorite John Hughes Movies (Plus Three Honorable Mentions).

But first, does anyone have a guess?

Anyone?

Anyone?

Bueller?

Give yourself five (meaningless) points if you answered Ferris Bueller's Day Off! I love them all, of course, but this movie just might be, gun to my head, I must must MUST pick just one favorite, John Hughes movie. But that's only if I must must MUST, gun to my head, pick a favorite. It's just so dang good, folks.

A brief plot summary: A high school kid takes a day off from school.

Why do I love this movie so much? Is it the snappy dialogue which is subconsciously worked into my everyday vocabulary? Yes. Is it the perfectly cast Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller? Yes. Is it the quirky name Ferris Bueller? Yes. When pregnant with my first child, was the boy's name I had picked out Ferris? Yes. Was the girl's name I had picked out Farrah? Yes. Was I (blessedly and rightfully) outvoted? Yes. Do I digress? Apparently. Let's get back to Ferris, shall we? Yes.

Favorite movie lines:

Sloane Peterson: What are we going to do?
Ferris Bueller: The question isn't 'what are we going to do', the question is 'what aren't we going to do'.

Ferris: Look, it's real simple. Whatever mileage we put on, we'll take off.
Cameron Frye: How?
Ferris: We'll drive home backwards.

*Side note #1: This doesn't work. I know this for sure.

Sloane: The city looks so peaceful from up here.
Ferris: Anything looks peaceful from one thousand, three hundred and fifty-three feet.
Cameron: I think I see my dad.

Grace: Oh Ed. You sounded like Dirty Harry just then.

Ed Rooney: I don't trust this kid any further than I can throw him.
Grace: Well, with your bad knee Ed, you shouldn't throw anybody … it's true.
Ed: What is so dangerous about a character like Ferris Bueller is he gives good kids bad ideas.
Grace: Mm-mm.
Ed: Last thing I need at this point in my career is fifteen hundred Ferris Bueller disciples running around these halls. He jeopardizes my ability to govern this student body.
Grace: Well, makes you look like an ass is what he does, Ed.

Ferris: I asked for a car, I got a computer. How's that for being born under a bad sign?

Ferris: Incredible, one of the worst performances of my career and they never doubted it for a second. How can I possibly be expected to handle school on a day like this?

*Side note #2: I actually said this to myself when I snapped the photo below. I always think this when I see a day with a bright blue sky and big, fluffy white clouds. Don't you? How can I possibly be expected to handle school/work/kids/bathroom cleaning on a day like this?

Ferris is probably the most popular character from this movie, but Grace, the school secretary, is my favorite. Her lines are delivered with such an understated, dead pan face that makes Grace steal every scene that she's in. Love her!

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. Pin It Now!