The films of John Hughes belong to a class of nostalgia and greatness all their own, but 25 years on, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a particularly universal moment of brilliance in the late director's career. On June 11, 1986, the Matthew Broderick vehicle about delinquency, high school malaise, and budding adulthood opened in theaters, and now, Movieline is thrilled to rehash its most underrated moment.
While the starring triumvirate of Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara is unforgettable, I think the most adorable (and real) moments come courtesy of Edie McClurg, the '80s character actress who plays Principal Rooney's secretary Grace. As Rooney's diplomatic accomplice, she lights up the screen with a cheeriness that almost compulsively reminds me of my high school's front office. Here's a quick clip of her brass at work; she'd use the same smarts to illuminate the Winners' Circle on dozens of episodes of The $25,000 Pyramid.
What are your favorite Ferris Bueller moments? Feel free to wax poetic about all the Chicago iconography and whatever else strikes your fancy below.