DVD Release Date: January 10, 2006

Cast:

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By Ken Shallcross

“Bueller… Bueller…” The first time any teen hears those lines and watches Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, something deep down inside them inspires them to skip school the next day. For the few (or many) that have tried, I doubt anyone has come close to the perfect, flawless con pulled by Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller. Few classic movies remain unsubjected to the Hollywood multiple-DVD-release demons; Ferris is one of them. The new Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Bueller… Bueller… Edition is a severe improvement over the 1999 bare-bones edition – to the point that is worth the double-dip – but something is still lacking.

THE MOVIE
In a role that will forever define Matthew Broderick’s career, Ferris is a street-wise kid who knows all the tricks. Today, a rather sunny, beautiful day, he decides to take the day off school. But when Ferris takes the day off, so must his best friends, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck) and Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara). Cameron is persuaded to borrow his father's Ferrari, and together they hatch a plan to get Sloane out of class. Then they’re off for a romp through The Windy City. Suspicious dean of students, Ed Rooney (Jeffrey Jones) knows all about Ferris, but can never catch him; Ferris' sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) is also frustrated that Ferris always gets away with his tricks and she doesn't. Furthermore, Ferris is an angel in his parents’ eyes. But none of that matters, because it's Ferris's day off and he's out to enjoy himself.

I’m not going to go into detail about this 1980’s John Hughes masterpiece. Despite the fact the movie has no real point (seriously, though, which John Hughes movies do?), this film should be prerequisite viewing for anyone and everyone entering high school. The film made $70 million in theaters, 20 years ago (June ’86), off of a $6 million budget! It went on to make almost $30 more in rentals – and probably even more in sales… Even though I have been out of the formal education system since the last millennium, I am psyched to finally replace my old VHS and give Ferris his rightful spot on my DVD shelf.

OK… The DVD is worth buying just for the film – but what about the rest of it?

SOUND + VISION
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is presented in 2.35:1 Widescreen, enhanced for 16:9 TVs. Soundtracks are available in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, 2.0 Surround and French DD 2.0 Surround. Subtitles are available in English and Spanish. The video may have been cleaned up a bit, but more-or-less it’s basically the same as the last edition. In fact, the audio seems to be mixed a tad low, and the surrounds are (obviously) barely used. A nicely restored original mono might have been nice for purists – but no such luck.

PACKAGING/ LAYOUT
The Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Bueller… Bueller… Edition DVD comes in very standard packaging, with annoying locking tabs to boot. I was sort of expecting a cheap thrill from creative packaging, but nothing – not even a booklet! A full-body Ferris adorns the cover – different from the standard poster image – with the movie title in bold red lettering, facing sideways. Standard special features listing, tech specs, movie write-up and photos grace the back. The jewel case does come in a cardboard slipcase.

Menu screens are fun with good animation and nice layout. “Play,” “Set Up,” “Special Features” and “Scene Selection” are your main menu choices.

The film runs 102 minutes and is split into 14 chapters.

SPECIAL FEATURES
The special features on the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: Bueller… Bueller… Edition are a serious improvement over the ’99 edition DVD. However, I found all the featurettes only whetting my appetite for more bonus material. Where are the deleted scenes, bloopers, trailers and audition tapes? And where is the Hughes commentary track -- the one and only extra included on the previous release? Still, like I said, a vast improvement over the last edition. Here’s a closer look at the new material:

• Getting the Class Together: The Cast of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – This is one of the best featurettes on casting ever made. Almost 28 minutes devoted purely to assembling the now-classic line-up of a cast. Everyone participates in this bit, from Broderick and Ruck to Ben Stein, Kristy Swanson and Richard Edson (the garage attendant) – even the casting directors contribute in a major way. Hughes and Sara do not participate in new interviews and vintage footage is used for them. Did you know that Broderick and Ruck were on Broadway together doing Biloxi Blues when they were cast? Did you know that Ferris’s parents (Cindy Pickett and Lyman Ward) dated right before shooting the film to create better on-screen chemistry – and then ended up getting married? Lots of great stories in here from almost the entire cast and clips from the film help illustrate the stories.
• The Making of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – This 15½-minute piece combines a lot of new interview footage and old EPK material. All the standard elements are covered: individual scenes, shooting, editing, etc. It’s a good watch – could have been a bit longer, but definitely going to make fans happy.
• Who is Ferris Bueller? – This 9-minute piece is devoted to the similarities between the character that is Ferris and the man that is Broderick. It’s a fun insight into the character and the perceptions of him by the rest of the cast.
• The World According to Ben Stein – Using vintage on-the-set interview footage and newly shot bits, this featurette spends almost 11 minutes with Stein, as he discusses everything from how he got into showbiz to his lifetime crowning achievement: uttering the phrase, “Bueller… Bueller…”
• Vintage Ferris Bueller: The Lost Tapes – This extra feature is great. About 10 minutes worth of on-the-set interviews shows the cast goofing around and just having a great time together. It’s a fun watch and a good time capsule for 1980’s filmmaking. It even includes a deleted scene entitled, “The Isles Of Langerhans.”
• Class Album – Rounding out the set is a collection of about 20 promotional photos from the film’s leading trio.

Kicking off the disc, pre-main menu, are a few trailers (they are also accessible within the DVD): Airplane: Don’t Call Me Shirley Edition, Tommy Boy: Holy Schnike Edition and Elizabethtown.

LIFE MOVES PRETTY FAST…
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is an American classic. The timeless story from Hughes still resonates with kids of today – even the ones that saw it in theaters 20 years ago and are now hard-working adults. For only $12.99 on Amazon.com, even if you own the 1999 edition, it’s time to upgrade. This DVD is a must buy!

DVD Film Score: A
DVD Sound + Vision Score: B
DVD Packaging/ Layout Score: C
DVD Special Features Score: B
DVD Overall Score: A

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