Ferris Bueller’s Day Off SteelBook

“Bueller… Bueller…? Sorry, not here! Instead, high-schooler Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick), his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara), and his best bud Cameron (Alan Ruck) are off on the spontaneous romp through Chicago known as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. You’ll also enjoy righteous bonus material that gives you an insider’s peek at this hilarious comedy hit from John Hughes (Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Sixteen Candles). So, barf up a lung, forge a “sick note” from the parents, and tag along on the funniest adventure to ever sweep through the Windy City. What are you still doing here? Save Ferris!”

While it doesn’t include any of the core members of the Brat Pack, John Hughes Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is still one of his most recognizable films of the 80’s. Thirty-five years later, all of the themes, the messages, the comedy, still hold up as poignant messages to youths about to enter into adulthood. Paramount’s new SteelBook edition celebrating this 35^th anniversary is a welcomed reason to revisit the film, for me, after so many years.

In all honesty, it’s probably been a decade or more since I’ve seen the film, and what struck me the most was how my viewing of it has drastically changed the older I’ve gotten. While I was once thrilled by the comedic sequences, Ferris’ uncanny knack for tricking people with technology, and getting the better of the school officials, there is a lot more that grabs my attention about the story. As eager as I was to go on a fun adventure of cutting school again, it’s more of a last look at their lives as it is now, before responsibility takes over and changes their lives forever. I may not have been that far removed from that transition myself, but experiencing the film now I can definitely appreciate that essence that John Hughes so perfectly captures in all his stories. Those of us that who saw it early in our lives are now the age of Hughes when he wrote the film, and with nostalgia being an all-time money maker for a generation who can’t handle getting older, this film is the perfect way to try and capture a bit of youth again.

These themes don’t just extend to enjoying youth while you can, but also deals with some pretty harsh realities. Cameron’s family life is a dose of real life dropped into this light-hearted comedy. His utter fear of his father and his wrath, as well as Ferris’ attempts to help him get out from underneath that fear and his insights into his possible future carry a lot of weight in the film, grounding it with some true emotion.

Odds are, most people interested in this release have already seen the film and don’t need me to point out why this film is still so culturally relevant. Getting down to brass tax, Paramount hasn’t let this pandemic hinder them when it comes to their home video releases. As busy as they’ve been, they’ve released quite a lot of John Hughes material on Blu-ray, including a 5-Movie Collection earlier this year that includes this film as well as the Blu-ray debuts of She’s Having a Baby and Some Kind of Wonderful. With nothing new to offer except the collectible SteelBook, unless you are an avid collector of those types of releases, you may be better off with the 5-movie Collection if you are a fan of Hughes.

Video

The video is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1. As mentioned, this is an identical disc from previous releases, so you won’t be getting anything new in terms of transfers. However, this transfer does look really good. Grain is consistent throughout, with a very clear and detailed picture. Colors come through nicely throughout, with some very striking sequences that highlight just how good it can get on Blu-ray. This is a release that will look fantastic on 4k, and I for one can’t wait for that to come out.

Audio

The audio is presented in English Dolby TrueHD 5.1. This is a great track as well, with some fantastic music, selected by Hughes like in all his films, that really add to the feel of the movie. Dialogue is clear and concise from the center channel, never overpowered by the atmospheric effects and score from the surrounds.

Special Features

Nothing new here, but contains all the same extras from previous releases, which include:

• Getting the Class Together: The Cast of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• The Making of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
• Who is Ferris Bueller?
• The World According to Ben Stein
• Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes
• Class Album

All in all, the film will mean something different to everyone who watches it, at various periods in their lives. But for those that haven’t seen it in a while, this beautiful SteelBook is the perfect opportunity to pick this up and add to your collection.