The Chicago Traveler

Many kids have faked an illness in order to stay home from school. That, however, would never work for me. My parents’ theory seemed to be: “Can you walk? Can you breathe? Then you’re going to school.” One famous fictional teenager gets away with it and decides that he’s not going to waste his day off school by staying home; he’s going to have an all-out adventure in downtown Chicago. Of course, I’m talking about Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 1986
Directed by:	John Hughes
Produced by:	John Hughes Tom Jacobson
Starring:	Matthew Broderick Alan Ruck Mia Sara Jeffrey Jones Jennifer Grey
Distributed by:	Paramount Pictures
All Movie Guide IMDb Amazon.com

This 1986 comedy follows high school senior Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick) as he skips school (for the ninth time) and spends the day with his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck). He convinces a very nervous Cameron to “borrow” his father’s 1961 Ferrari, despite the fact that Mr. Frye himself never drives it and has memorized the mileage on the car’s odometer.

Cameron’s father may be the least of Ferris’ concerns though. The school’s Dean of Students, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones), refuses to be fooled and doesn’t believe that Bueller is actually sick. He is determined to catch Ferris in his lie and visits Bueller’s house, where he encounters a bit more than he bargained for.

After driving past the Weather Bell, the three friends park the Ferrari in a less-than-trustworthy establishment and take in all that Chicago has to offer. They attend a baseball game at Wrigley Field, enjoy the view from the top of Sears Tower, visit the Art Institute of Chicago, and stop by the Chicago Board of Trade. At the height of their day, Ferris sneaks onto a float during the Von Steuben Day Parade (which travels past Daley Plaza) and lip-syncs “Danke Schoen” and the Beatles’ rendition of “Twist and Shout” (at the intersection of Adams and Dearborn). And they manage to do all this while narrowly running into Ferris’ father (who works at 333 Wacker Drive) several times.

As the day comes to a close, Ferris contemplates what the future will bring for him and his friends… but first, he must figure out what to do about the car’s odometer, his resentful tattletale sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey), his parents who are on their way home from work, and the unwavering Dean of Students.

The movie is a warm-hearted, feel-good flick that can be enjoyed over and over again. Not only does the film show off some of the best attractions in Chicago, but it also is a fine example on how to truly appreciate and live life. Now, who has a Ferrari I can borrow?

3 Comments