2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
It always amazed me how little credit Ferris Bueller gets. His day off is one of John Hughes finest exploration of teenage angst and one of the most influential comedies of the eighties. Watching it today, its a breath of fresh air; a film with a pure heart and distinct lack of the vulgarity that plagues modern comedy. Right from the start Ferris is talking to us, bringing us into the exhilarating world of skipping school. This is one of the most direct breakings of the fourth wall that, with each shot framed exactly at Ferris shoulder level, puts us on the same page as the characters from the off. This straight to the point method is necessary as Ferris could quite easily have come across as a bit of a bastard; hes the kid who remains incredibly popular despite his constant misdeeds. Bringing us on to his side from the start avoids him being anything other than likable. In a way, this personal approach puts him as less a distant hero and more like a good friend; we are in the same boat as Cameron. John Hughes always stated that the story was really about Cameron and his journey towards finally dealing with his distant father. Theres even a popular fan theory that
Ferris and Sloane are in fact figments of Camerons imagination, representing the life he wished he had (although in this writers opinion thats reading an outlandish film far too seriously). No matter how you take it, Ferris talking to the audience makes us feel like Cameron, in awe of the formers outrageous deeds.