If you are familiar with movies from the ’80s, there are two names you know — John Hughes and Ferris Bueller. Oddly enough, for those who don’t know, they are intrinsically connected forever.
If the 1980s had a national archivist, that person would have been John Hughes who made some of those most transparent, authentic, and historic movies of the decade including Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Sixteen Candles, and arguably, his seminal hit, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
The film, starring Matthew Broderick and Alan Ruck (that’s him sitting in a rather famous garage seen in the movie), is an iconic but spoofy take into one kid’s life whose persona takes over a school…and then Chicago.
For history’s sake, here’s the momentous garage and a rather insane 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, then why we are here.
Save Ferris Bueller
Source: Paramount Pictures/UIP
Now, why we are here. This movie, which first came to theaters in 1986, was historic. It was the film that made “breaking the fourth wall” the thing to do in Hollywood. Ferris Bueller speaks to the audience as if he’s longtime pals with everyone in the theater. It was genius. His best friend and pathetic sidekick, Cameron Frye (Alan Ruck), learns vicariously what it means to feel alive.
Matthew Broderick has gone on to have a rather illustrious career on Broadway and in film. Alan Ruck, on the other hand, has found a home on the small screen in series like CSI, Spin City, and most recently on HBO’s Succession as Connor Roy. So, sure he’d like to see himself back on the big screen.
And, as he channels his inner John Hughes, he believes he has just the idea to make it happen. Recently, he was sheltering-in-place (and looking rather homeless) while chatting with Lola Ogunnaike with People TV’s “Couch Surfing.” And that’s when he announced his spectacular idea to Save Ferris.
Spoiler Alert: It’s not.
“There are always little rumors, and different writers will come up to [me] at parties or awards shows and say, ‘I’ve got a great idea, and then you never hear anything more about it…
Back in the day, John Hughes talked to Matthew briefly about maybe having Ferris go to college. I always thought they should wait until Matthew and I are in our 70s. Cameron’s in a nursing home, and Ferris comes and breaks him out!”
Alan Ruck, People TV, Nov. 2020
So, uh, what’s next? Cashing in the lease on the Ferrari for one of those spanky new Rascal scooters? You know, the ones with the little six-year-old girl flags on them? Sure, they don’t get much on the highway, but push that joker down a hill and you’re really picking up steam.
Although it sounds like a joke, Ruck believes the title is Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 2: The Golden Years. Maybe that idea should just go play pickleball and forget how to get back to bed, Alan. Ferris Bueller is one of those characters who don’t need a sequel; the original broke the mold.
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