Paramount Home Entertainment
Release date: May 5th, 2009
MSRP: $29.99

Director: John Hughes
Stars: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jeffrey Jones, Jennifer Grey
Writer: John Hughes

While Hughes had success with a number of films, FBDO seems to be the one that has stood the test of time. Personally, I think it is his finest hour. As a teenager, I enjoyed many of his films, but few seem to stand up to the test of time. Ferris Bueller is one that does. It plays just as well today as it did twentysome years ago.

For those that don’t know the tale, Matthew Broderick plays Ferris Bueller, a charismatic and confidant high school senior that seemingly has the world eating out of the palm of his hand. Everyone in school likes him, “The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore him. They think he’s a righteous dude.”

With just a few weeks left in his senior year, Ferris decides to fake being sick and coerces his best friend, Camerson, and his girlfriend Sloan into joining him for one last day of fun before they all head off to different schools. While this is going on, Ed Rooney, the assistant Principle is deternined to catch Ferris and make an example of him.

What really makes FBDO is Matthew Broderick’s performance. The character of Ferris could easily have been a snotty, little shit, but Matthew gives him very likeable qualities and you can totally buy him being the guy everyone likes and wants to hang out with.

Video:
The film is presented in a 2.35:1 ratio in 1080p. The picture looks fine, but is nothing special. Part of that is likely the original negative and how FB was filmed. It was another teen comedy, I don’t think Hughes and co were attempting to break new ground or make an artists statement here. So while the overall quality is sound, there is little that makes use of the HD format.

Audio:
Soundtrack is in Dolby TrueHD 5.1. Much like the picture, there really is very little heavy lifting required, soundwise, for the TrueHD. The 80s tunes are mixed well, but nothing really stands out as being dynamic. The Ferrarri scene is pretty good, but that is about it. Subtitles are provided in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish

Extras:
Pretty much everything here was on the DVD release for a few years ago. We get five fearturettes that total at around an hour and fifteen minutes. We get a mix of stuff from the set as well as some more current interviews with various cast members. I would have liked a commentary track, but none is provided. If memory serves, I think Hughes did one for the first DVD release, why not include that here?

I don’t want it to sound like I am criticizing this release, or Paramount for that matter. This is not a double dip, its simply a release in a new format. If you don’t own Ferris Bueller, head on out and snag a copy of this. But if you own the 2006 DVD release, I don’t see any need to purchase this.

Order Ferris Bueller’s Day Off on Blu-ray.

Jeremy Lynch
For more reviews from myself, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.