jpmelkus

In this era of corporatized "Content," it is so refreshing, and frankly wonderful, to see a film like this created out of whole cloth by two incredibly talented and creative people unfiltered by focus groups and algorithms and preconceived notions of what niche it has to fit into.

Yes, this is a conventional documentary in how it unfolds. It is told in a very familiar book-like style with chapter and it is clear that the filmmakers are well studied in the art of these types of films. I can't BELIEVE this is their first movie!!!

That said, it feels so fresh and new because it is totally unconstrained with fitting into a Netflix-style box. They simply made the film they wanted to make about a subject they were interested in. And they absolutely hit it out of the park.

As others have said, it is HILARIOUS and the two brothers are very charismatic people (and the main on screen brother has envious hair). But you will also come away from it having learned a mountain of real information about birds and a very complete picture of bird watching as a hobby and the subculture around its extreme elements.

I got the feeling all the subjects were thrilled that someone cared enough about birding to make this film.

It is so rare today to see such a well executed, crystallized vision brought to life by an auteur. Congratulations to these two guys for making this happen and hopefully, they will become successful in filmmaking or whatever they choose to do in the future. I get the feeling they will have every opportunity to do that.

Very inspiring. Outstanding work. Thanks for making my day!

This is very much a paint by numbers kids movie. The villain is very badly characterized, the comedy is bland, and the characters and story are out of central casting for a movie like this.

That said it's pretty family friendly and looks really nice and has just enough giggles and action to make it worth it.

My bright six year old giggled maybe ten times but never had a belly laugh. That sums it up. Might be a little intense for younger than five years old.

It's PG. I think they could've toned down the villain, who is nasty and has NO comic relief, made it G, had more jokes and it would've been a lot better.

I rewatched FBDO (sorry, had to) for the first time in many years. I was not even 10 when it came out, and it is not until now that I have appreciated it a level beyond the basic comedy. It has comedy for sure, of all kinds. Slapstick, absurdity, farce, comedy-of-errors, comedy-of-manners, puns, shock, swearing, satire, parody, and on and on.

But is so much more than an outstanding comedy. It has real philosophy that is not sophomoric (they're seniors and juniors...haha). This comes in Ferris's asides, but also in what the characters say when they are not joking.

It has some complete non-sequiturs and montages that really make you ponder the characters and that capture what it is like to be young in a way that you almost never see, e.g., them looking down from the Sears Tower, the scene at the art musuem, etc.

Why? Well, real teenagers can almost never make enduring art, so they have a hard time capturing what its like to be young in any way beyond the surface. You have to know what it fleeting about youth to capture it and you only know that once you're not young any more. A 17 year old writing this movie couldn't capture youth because youth are just to callow and to inexperienced with life. But adults, even when they try to write about youth, often infuse that feeling with too much importance that isn't present when you're young. It gets too nostalgic, or treacly, or whatever.

But with FBDO, John Hughes just takes your mind back to what it was like to be about to graduate high school.

Yes, these are all privileged white kids. Yes, the whole move is extra white and extra privileged. Minorities are relegated to some really insulting stereotypical parts. So in that regard, it has not aged well at all.

BUT! This movie still captures late adolescence perfectly. That feeling of knowing your childhood is about to disappear and missing it already, but being excited about your unknown future that seems to stretch out forever ahead of you. And scared at the same time.

It just leaves you feeling warm and reminiscent and happy to be an adult, but really glad you were a kid.

I also like that Ferris, for all his likability, is a flawed character. He is a narcissist. But he's 17 (maybe 18). He hurts Cameron's feelings over and over in a way that is close to bullying or gaslighting. But protagonists shouldn't be perfect. And Ferris's flaws illustrate those of the other characters in a way that is very illuminating.

All these characters have a depth that is so lacking (except maybe the dad). Certainly Sloane and Cameron and Ferris are totally three dimensional. But even his sister, and mom are shown as real people too.

But then you have totally INSANE absurd non-sequiturs thrown in. The principal is an absolute cartoon. So is his secretary. The BONKERS way everyone in town is pulling for Ferris. I mean, they paint a WATERTOWER in like an hour?!?! The parking lot joyride. Abe Froman!? The whole parade sequence?! It is just crazy how all that happens and the movie still feels "real."

An absolute joy to watch. I haven't seen a comedy this deep in years. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, another John Hughes movie is probably similar in that regard. They do not make them like this much any more. Even 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, for all their dealing with "big issues" seem to be inhabited by cardboard cutouts (the stoner, the hectoring girlfriend/wife) compared to this film.

Watch it every couple years. You won't regret it.