Home/Episodes/Ferris Bueller's Day Off

‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan

April 21, 2020 · Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) · Comedy · 1:39:32 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

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Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsThe Ferrari Star Wars scene - when the parking attendants take the Ferrari for a joyride and are shown flying through the air with euphoric looks while Star Wars music plays▶ 38:09

What's Aged the Best

Bill SimmonsThe 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California (sold for $18 million in 2018), Charlie Sheen's 1986 career year, and Mia Sarah's Sloan Peterson▶ 50:18
Chris RyanThe use of pop music in the movie - possibly the best use of pop music in a movie ever, with songs perfectly integrated and cut to rhythm▶ 53:32

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsAlan RuckGlad Emilio Estevez turned down Cameron role, prefers Alan Ruck. Believes Hughes was vindictive about casting decisions and would cut actors who disappointed him. Thinks Jeffrey Jones was right choice over Paul Gleason for Rooney.▶ 57:30
Chris RyanAlan RuckHappy with Alan Ruck as Cameron over Emilio Estevez, who seemed more punk rock. Thinks John Cusack got his iconic high schooler role with Lloyd Dobler in Say Anything instead of Ferris.▶ 57:53
Sean FennesseyAlan RuckThinks Emilio Estevez could have done good job as Cameron but prefers Alan Ruck. Believes Hughes wanted Anthony Michael Hall as his De Niro/avatar. Prefers Jeffrey Jones over Paul Gleason for Rooney due to different energy - Jones more sitcom-y vs Gleason being 'just a huge prick'.▶ 57:34

Joey Pants Award

Chris RyanMax PerlichMax Perlick and Scott Coffee from the classroom scene▶ 1:04:14
Sean FennesseyRichard EdsonPraised Richard Edson's filmography and importance in 80s cinema but didn't give their own specific pick▶ 1:04:37

Dion Waiters Award

Bill SimmonsCharlie SheenCharlie Sheen - suggests going with Charlie Sheen and confirms that's their vote▶ 1:09:02
Chris RyanJennifer GreyJennifer Grey - discusses her as a maligned character who serves as secondary villain but is actually great, loves her calling cops scene and karate kicks▶ 1:07:31
Sean FennesseyJennifer GreyJennifer Grey - agrees she's great, calls her a great comic actress and the platonic older sister, says she's probably a better villain than Rooney▶ 1:08:06

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsShared multiple facts including: Chez Louis restaurant used in Blues Brothers, St. Elmo's Fire, and Ferris Bueller; deleted scene about Ferris stealing bonds; Challenger explosion requiring removal of space shuttle references; parents actors married in real life; Ben Stein's lecture was improvised; Ferrari replicas used bankrupted the company▶ 1:11:30
Chris RyanAdded details about Kenny Ortega doing choreography, Jennifer Aniston playing Jeannie in TV show, and preference for Parker Lewis Can't Lose over Ferris Bueller TV adaptation▶ 1:14:21
Sean FennesseyContributed facts about Ronnie Cox's career run from 83-90, preference for Parker Lewis Can't Lose, and pointed out the bus scene timing inconsistency▶ 1:15:17

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsMatthew BroderickDiscusses multiple candidates - says Mia Farrow yes, Ferrari Corporation yes, Chez Louis yes, but uncertain about Matthew Broderick (could be this movie or The Producers on Broadway), Jennifer Grey was Dirty Dancing, and considers Chicago summer movies and all-in-one-day movie category▶ 1:16:55
Chris RyanInside ManMentions Blues Brothers and About Last Night for Chicago movies, says Inside Man is favorite all-in-one-day movie▶ 1:18:30
Sean FennesseyThe ProducersSuggests The Producers on Broadway for Broderick's apex mountain and proposes the all-in-one-day movie category discussion with candidates like Dazed and Confused, Do the Right Thing▶ 1:17:42

Best Quote

Bill SimmonsMultiple quotes including the George Peterson phone call bit and various Ferris lines like 'Life moves pretty fast'▶ 1:27:28
Chris RyanGrace's line about Ferris being popular with 'the Sportos, the Motorheads, Geeks, Sluts, Bloods, Wastoids, Dweebies, Dickheads' and the first 25 minutes being full of quotable lines▶ 1:30:28
Sean FennesseyThe George Peterson phone call bit - 'Every single thing that Rock says with Peterson'▶ 1:27:28

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Bill SimmonsWhat month was this day? April. Timeline issue: as a senior he should have already been accepted to college by then, unless he was waitlisted.▶ 1:34:18
Chris RyanWhere do Ferris and Cam go to college? Thinks Cam goes to Michigan, Ferris maybe to Kenyon or Bard, or University of Illinois. Ferris and Sloan date first semester of college then he forgets about her.▶ 1:33:40
Sean FennesseyFerris goes to Hampton College or similar hippie atmosphere school where you give yourself your own grades▶ 1:34:12

Who Won the Movie

Bill SimmonsJohn HughesHughes first, Broderick second, Cameron third▶ 1:35:32
Chris RyanMatthew BroderickAcknowledges Hughes but emphasizes the perfect pairing between Broderick and Hughes, noting Broderick's peak charismatic performance▶ 1:37:16
Sean FennesseyJohn HughesHughes - this confirms Hughes as the guy who owns the 80s more than any other writer director▶ 1:35:26

Movies Referenced (50)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
The Breakfast Club (1985)IMDb ↗Lb ↗7Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 12:29
Do the Right Thing (1989)IMDb ↗Lb ↗5Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons▶ 1:04:45
Platoon (1986)IMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 15:31
Dirty Dancing (1987)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 1:08:12
Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey▶ 38:07
Weird Science (1985)IMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 59:42
Avatar (2009)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan▶ 1:00:07
Back to the Future (1985)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 9:57
Basic Instinct (1992)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 52:40
Can't Buy Me Love (1987)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 16:44
Home Alone (1990)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons▶ 19:55
Inside Out (2015)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 29:55

Directors Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
John HughesIMDb ↗Lb ↗38Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanPlanes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club▶ 1:35
Kenny OrtegaIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 1:14:16
Warren BeattyIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyHeaven Can Wait▶ 53:19
Woody AllenIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyAnnie Hall▶ 16:05

Actors Referenced (53)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Matthew BroderickIMDb ↗Lb ↗26Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyThe Producers, WarGames, Ferris Bueller's Day Off▶ 1:35
Alan RuckIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris RyanTwister, Speed, Ferris Bueller's Day Off▶ 5:18
Alan RickmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗7Bill Simmons, Chris RyanDie Hard, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves▶ 1:09:34
Ben SteinIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill SimmonsFerris Bueller's Day Off, The Mask▶ 32:35
Charlie SheenIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Chris RyanWall Street▶ 51:29
Gene SiskelIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons▶ 28:50
Jeffrey JonesIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Sean FennesseyAmadeus, Howard the Duck, The Hunt for Red October▶ 55:53
Molly RingwaldIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Chris RyanSixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink▶ 58:19
Richard EdsonIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyDo the Right Thing, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Platoon▶ 1:03:32
Anthony Michael HallIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean FennesseyLive by Night▶ 5:07
Scottie PippenIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill SimmonsHe Got Game▶ 3:01
Emilio EstevezIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan▶ 57:24

Writers Referenced (4)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Roger EbertIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons▶ 28:38
Andy GreenwaldIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 28:52
Bruce SpringsteenIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Sean FennesseyThe Wrestler, Philadelphia▶ 53:19
Neil SimonIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Chris Ryan▶ 9:16