mteller wrote:As someone who was a high school nerd when the movie came out, there is no way in hell that Ferris reads as "nerd". His ability with the computer (and note the disappointment in the line: "I asked for a car, I got a computer") is just another aspect of his "Ferris is magically amazing at absolutely everything he does" character. Nothing else about him comes off as nerd.
You want some nerd wish fulfillment, look at Indiana Jones. That dude is a U of C professor.
1) Name: Ferris Bueller - the name is nerdy by design.
2) Status: The most popular kid in school, town, etc, yet absolutely average in every dept, looks, voice, demeanor, grades, and no wealth or car. No achievements of note. Any "real" character with the popularity of Ferris would be in many clubs, organizations, teams, yet we see or hear of nothing like this. Also, he seems to be known by everyone, yet he only has 1 friend, who is also a nerd. Strange?
3) Girlfriend: is unattainably hottest in school: Enough said.
4) Popularity: Did you notice the exaggerated popularity, to the point of surreal, with the "Save Ferris" campaign? Hello, its screaming - this is all far too fantastic, even absurd.
5) The Daydream: First, its all one day. That's significant. Also, didnt you see how "perfect" everything is?? Each plot point turns on somehow, incredibly, it always works out perfect for Ferris, like when he runs by his parents and ends up in bed without ever being noticed - that's totally impossible. Also, when he is in the cab with Mia Sara, he is totally busted, but Mia Sara saves the day somehow through edit-time shifting.
6) Revenge: Did you perhaps notice how maybe all the people that make Ferris life more difficult, all end up in very humiliating situations?
And don't you remember the time you led all of downtown Chicago in a sing along? No, you didn't. Or that time your Ferrari got stolen, and then returned without a scratch? Thought not.
Ferris is just an absurd, fantastic character. Someone who has no past and no future besides this one perfect day. Over and over, everything always works out perfect. Kinda like a super nobody's daydream. Oh and as a recovering nerd that graduated high school in 85, I can assure you that your opinon doesn't have any special weight on that count, but I can guarantee you that at the time, nobody thought Danke Schoen was a high school favorite!
Ferris Bueller's Day Off, suggests not just a day off from school, but a day off from a life of being scared that it isn't what they'd hoped, and from those heavy consequences.