I remember watching this movie, and while I loved the first 2 acts, both full of endless laughter, I couldn't help but think that Ferris Bueller was something of a narcissist. He does many seemingly selfish things; lying to his parents, humiliating his principal, and putting his 'best friend' in danger, all so he can have 7 carefree hours off of school. It is not until the 3rd act that he becomes a 3-dimensional character, and we begin to understand him and realize he is not the sociopath we might have assumed he is. While it seems he does all the things he does for his own pleasure, it becomes clear in the last 20 minutes he was really doing it for his friend. At the beginning of the movie, Cameron is timid, constantly worried, and unsure of himself. We learn his parents argue, and his dad neglects him, and would rather work on his Ferrari instead of spending time with his son. Throughout the movie, Ferris tries to boost his friend's self-esteem, and by the end, he has succeeded. His friend is a completely different person, and most of the major characters are, notably his sister. However, Ferris doesn't seem to change at all. He helps his friends become better people, but in doing so, he isn't changing at all.

Ferris Bueller was either loved or hated by his peers for always getting away with anything he'd do. Some would want him expelled, others want him for Class President. On this extremely eventful day, the audience is invited to follow Ferris, his best pal and his girlfriend from morning to afternoon (when they all should have been in school), enjoying a holiday declared by the resourceful Ferris Bueller.

They get to speed on the freeway in a Ferrari, sing "Danke Schoen" on an Octoberfest Float, eat at the most exclusive restaurant in town and always keep just one step ahead of a furious principal in hot pursuit. With fake computer grade and attendance records, Ferris has it made.

The scene where the principal hitches a ride on a school bus after having been "torn up" by Doberman watch dogs is worth the ticket price (Oh Yeah!). This is one of the funniest "high school prankster movies" ever! Has it been 20 years already? This is a definite Cult Classic! Right up there with Animal House and Caddy Shack.

One of the iconic films of the 80s is Ferris Bueller's Day Off in which a Puck like Matthew Broderick in the title role decides he's going to break all the rules and flout convention. He's simply going to what he wants on that day.

With two chosen companions Mia Sara and Alan Ruck, Broderick goes off and just has his day. Of course he feigns illness so that parents Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward just think Broderick is under the covers suffering.

Something about Broderick's flouting all the rules and conventions of the day just gets to certain people. One of them is his sister Jennifer Grey. The other and the Wile E. Coyote of the piece is assistant principal Jeffrey Jones. For whatever reasons that drive this man he has made it his life's ambitions to nail Matthew Broderick in the act of doing something he ought not.

Jones really got a career role out of this film. So did to a lesser extent Broderick. I think you would get a more varied response if you were ask people to name the role they associate with his name.

You can see why in the years of the Brat Pack this John Hughes film struck such a chord. The kids are cool and hip although in the case of Ruck trying to be. And the adults are symbolized by Jones, just uptight and rather stupid.

In fact in a scene at a police station Jennifer Grey meets up with Charlie Sheen who was getting his first notice. If you can imagine an outlaw kid like Sheen plays convincing Grey she ought to embrace her brother's rebellion.

One wonders now that Ferris Bueller and Matthew Broderick are not forty somethings how they feel about their kids flouting the rules.