Bueller.... Bueller?

So I finally saw Ferris Bueller's Day Off for the first time.  People may be stunned to read this, but I was only 4 when it came out and all the subsequent cultural references led me to believe I had sat down to watch it long before... when I actually hadn't.

The film is essentially a crime caper comedy starring high schoolers - one in which they commit "the perfect crime" of playing hooky only to indulge in the bourgeoisie excesses of upscale dining, a baseball game, and a parade.  How unceasingly American!  By today's standards, it is all so charming and admirably innocent.

It leaves a few plot holes unresolved and sometimes has a lack of dramatic stakes for the characters, but does ultimately deliver several satisfying character arcs.  Ironically, Ferris himself coasts through his escapades with almost no conflict - while those around him must change and adapt to their setting.  It's Ferris' movie and the supporting cast is just living in it.

It's also remarkable to consider that the film was made for $5.8 million and grossed more than $70 million at the box office, let alone the ongoing ancillary markets for broadcast and home video sales.