Ferris Bueller's Day Off Discussion Questions

Introduction

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), directed written and co-produced by John Hughes and Tom Jacobson has claimed it’s spot as one of the best teen movie of the 80’s. The teen comedy film follows Ferris Bueller, played by Matthew Broderick, a slacker teen who fakes ill to skip school. Ferris, known as the effortlessly cool “wise guy” around school coaxes his best friend Cameron Frye and girlfriend Sloane Peterson into his plan and the three spend the day aimlessly roam the streets of Chicago. Although a 32-year-old film, it is a timeless classic and still relatable to teens and adults alike. The audience is constantly at the edge of their seats as Ferris’s cover is nearly blown multiple times throughout the film. As the audience,

This tension starts as soon as Ferris calls Cameron in the morning to get him out of the house. Cameron, a very complex character, with issues at home and an of lesser popularity than Ferris is conflicted between outrage and obedience to his friend. We see him in his car muttering to himself, “he’ll keep calling me, he’ll keep calling me until I come over, he’ll make me feel guilty…” (Ferris Beuller’s Day Off, 1986). He puts the key in the ignition, starts the car. He shakes his head and yanks the key out of the ignition. Then, with no warning, he starts to punch the passenger seat (Almond, 2006). This day brings anxiety to Cameron, he needs someone to take charge and make decisions for him and Ferris is more than willing to take the lead (Myers, 2014). We see Ferris desperately trying to help Cameron, he even staged the parade to become and adolescent fantasy of omnipotence expressly for his best friend in that moment. At the end of the movie after all the antics, Cameron seems calm, and at peace with his fate and the trouble he will be in with his father for even touching his Ferrari. But the audience relates to him, it helps us understand that even we can deal with the most detrimental fates if we change our perspective on