The Fight Club theory of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:
My favorite thought-piece about Ferris Bueller is the “Fight Club” theory, in which Ferris Bueller, the person, is just a figment of Cameron’s imagination, like Tyler Durden, and Sloane is the girl Cameron secretly loves.
One day while he’s lying sick in bed, Cameron lets “Ferris” steal his father’s car and take the day off, and as Cameron wanders around the city, all of his interactions with Ferris and Sloane, and all the impossible hijinks, are all just played out in his head. This is part of the reason why the “three” characters can see so much of Chicago in less than one day — Cameron is alone, just imagining it all.
It isn’t until he destroys the front of the car in a fugue state does he finally get a grip and decide to confront his father, after which he imagines a final, impossible escape for Ferris and a storybook happy ending for Sloane (“He’s gonna marry me!”), the girl that Cameron knows he can never have.
(via Gerry Canavan)
Comments
17 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.Never thought of that. It makes Cameron seem that much more depressing though.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
that just blew my mind.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have no idea wth this post is all about since I’m not familiar with all those famous John Hughes movies. Yet I do think the idea is very similar to this list of “The 6 Most Depressing Happy Endings in Movie History”:
http://www.cracked.com/article_16570_6-most-depressing-happy-endings-in-movie-history.html
The “Back to the Future” one gives me chills.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
this is actually pretty damn brilliant. i just might watch this movie again. even if the theory doesn’t hold any water whatsoever, at least it earned another earnest view of its subject matter.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I have to watch it again now too. It’s that much more interesting now that I’ll look at it as a black comedy trip through some lonely guys mind. More my kind of movie actually.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The only reason this doesn’t hold any water for me is that I doubt John Hughes could come up with something so different. A quick look at his imdb page shows a lot of very mediocre mainstream movies, aside from those few he directed in the 80s (of which I only like Ferris Bueller. Weird Science was alright. Any of the ones with Molly Ringwald were mediocre at best, irritating at worst.)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
screw it all
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I concur with the mind blowing comment. I never ever viewed it that way
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
photoshopped
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is wonderful! Thank you for opening a new world of possibility for me.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
yeah, I’m impressed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You’re crediting John Hughes with WAY too much subtlety and sophistication.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
not all films depend on total realism. it does not matter that they may not have been able to see that much of Chicago in a day in real life, or that ferris’ hijinks are insane, it is a simple and wonderful feel-good film.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
seriously, mind-blowing? what the hell is wrong with you people?
so what’s the principle rooney subplot then, an extended hallucination taking place alongside cam’s supposed first hallucination? cam has to rationalize a villain for his imaginary friend?
that’s all retarded. ferris bueller’s day off is a straightforward coming of age story. get over yourself. adding unparalleled psychopathia does not “deepen” a movie.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t think anyone is suggesting that Hughes *meant* it this way. But as a new approach to looking at the film, it’s a hell of a brilliant concept. What other films can be “fight clubbed?”
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Whomever believes this is stupid. This is a terrible theory. Firstly, in the begining the teacher, Ben steins character, calls out roll mentioning both Ferris and Cameron. Second in fight club, no one ever talks to Tyler, Brad pitts character, other than Edward Nortans unnamed character. In FBDO Ferris and Sloan both have interactions with Cameron. This film cannot be fight clubed because that would assume everyone who knows ferris is a figment of Camerons imagination. That can be applied to everyfilm with two characters who are friends. This is a dumb comparison. Howard Hughs would be sad.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This is great and is actually far more appealing to me, as a massive lover of mindfuck films. (Mulholland Drive ftw)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0