A 1986 teen-comedy, Ferris Bueller's Day Off was written, produced and directed by John Hughes. It stars Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey and Jeffrey Jones.
Standing the test of time, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a real classic. As far as the genre of teen movies goes, if it has a sub-category of high-school films, and then a sub-sub-category of skipping school, Ferris Bueller's Day Off likely occupies the number one spot. Perfectly cast, well-paced, and confidently directed, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the sort of film that makes us laugh and, ultimately, reminds us that, as Ferris himself so eloquently phrases it at the movie’s end, "Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it!" Thus this film excels above the humdrum and novelty of fart-teen-flicks to a form of true art.
Filmmaker Hughes does not hesitate to act on the film's premise and break the rules right from the start, by having Ferris speak directly to us, the audience. Thus, he is breaking the "Fourth Wall", typically a big no-no in film and theater productions. Ferris' character, synonymous by now with the actor Matthew Broderick, is the vehicle by which people close to him (his best friend, sister, girlfriend,) change. Ferris himself, unlike a typical protagonist in a story, does not change. He doesn’t need to. He is already "it" -- the person that everyone wants to be. Some of the other characters in the film acknowledge it, other fight it, but Ferris is the realization of the here and now.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off is the brainchild of John Hughes. Hughes smartly allowed his actors to improvise and add parts and pieces to the film, enabling them to inhibit their roles and thus make their characters, including the most cartoonish ones of the teachers and the other adults in the story, come to life.
I can go on and on about this film but the gist of it is that if you have seen it, you already know why it is such a wonderful movie. If you have not (watched it yet,) better rent it out as my words pale to capture the experience. "Anyone? Anyone? Anyone?"