Sunday, April 6, 2014

Movie Review: "Uncle Buck" (1989)

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Movie"Uncle Buck"
Director: John Hughes
Year: 1989
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Buck is a bachelor who leads a less than conventional lifestyle. After his sister-in-law's father has a heart attack, Buck is asked to come to the suburbs and watch his nieces and nephew while his brother and his wife tend to her father. Buck has no experience with kids, but he just might wind up being exactly what they need in their lives.

This is another one of those classic 80's comedies helmed by John Hughes and driven, in large part, by the comedic genius that is John Candy. We think this is one of his best films! He plays another lovable goofball who really wants the best for people but still remains a little selfish. He tries so hard to do good and be liked by people, but somehow still manages to screw things up. In the end, it always comes together. It's such a shame he is gone, and sometimes, we still can't believe it.

Some of the lines in this movie are so memorable and hilarious that they are on our lists of favorite lines from movies (lists coming soon!). This was also the breakthrough role for Macaulay Culkin. The scene where he questions Chanice through the mail slot in the front door was the inspiration for the film "Home Alone," cool trivia tidbit! This movie also features one of our favorite 80's scenes: the one where Buck makes Myles gigantic pancakes for his birthday breakfast. Oh, to be him that morning! Jean Louisa Kelley does a great job making Tia such a miserable bitch throughout the movie that it's fun to watch Buck make her squirm with embarrassment. We have all been there, where we act out against our parental figures, but she takes the cake in awfulness.

Like most John Hughes films, "Uncle Buck" has a lot of heart mixed in with the zany goings on. As we've mentioned before on our blog, Hughes likes to take outrageous scenarios and situations and make them end with a message of good intent and love. Maybe that's why we're drawn to his movies. It's a shame that he is gone as well. At least he and John Candy were able to share their humor, their hearts, and a part of themselves with the world while they were here.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 64%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

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