MovieChat Forums > Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Discussion > Who is Ferris talking to?

Who is Ferris talking to?

posted 9 years ago by avortac
17 replies | jump to latest

I know that breaking the fourth wall is a moviemaking and theatrical gimmick, and that's fine.

In a different kind of story, it wouldn't really even matter much, and it's meant to be kind of 'abstract', not really having a specific individual that the character talks to.

But in this movie, I started wondering about it - if he's talking to some kind of a documentary television crew (which is even amplified by the fact that he feels ashamed enough in the shower scene to try to stop the camera from filming, or something), then .. what happens, when his parents see his 'tricks to faking out the parents' (I am paraphrasing, can't remember what it really was)?

I mean, if he's talking to a TV crew of some kind, obviously the documentary will be aired at some point, and he'll probably want to record it, as he does star in it (who wouldn't?), so it would end up existing in the house, and it'd be just a matter of time until the sister at least would stumble upon it, and show it to the parents, etc.

However, if there is no TV crew, all this behaviour becomes a bit peculiar. Is he just talking to empty air, and trying to get the empty air not to film him?

What's the "in-movie Universe"-explanation for who he is talking to?

The more you think about it, the more questions it seems to raise, and the more odd and unexplained the whole thing seems.

I don't think it's a good idea to break the fourth wall or have narration in a movie. You can SHOW things rather than narrate, and the whole fourth-wall breaking only serves to confuse the plot, at least in a movie like this, where it's paramount that the parents remain completely ignorant and clueless about the real motives, and real events.

[–] MargiePax 9 years ago

It's the fourth wall thing. It's just a comedy. It's John Hughes. It was the 1980s. It doesn't confuse the plot in this movie. If fact it enhances the rambling thought process of Ferris Bueller.

What confused me more was, if Cameron was in a catatonic stupor, how did he end up on a chair at the end of the diving board? And how come Jeannie didn't recognize Rooney in the kitchen?

[–] CigarDoug 8 years ago

And how come Jeannie didn't recognize Rooney in the kitchen?

She was very cute, and very alone, and very afraid. Her brain didn't connect the intruder with her High School Principal, because it never would occur to her that he would be in her kitchen.

[–] Thornspike 9 years ago

I supposed he is talking to the viewer.

[–] PillowRock 9 years ago

What's the "in-movie Universe"-explanation for who he is talking to?

There isn't one. It's entirely fourth-wall-breaking talking to the movie audience; entirely outside of the reality of the "in-movie Universe". (Haven't you ever seen the very last bit, after the closing the credits?)

You can SHOW things rather than narrate

No, a *lot* of Ferris' commentary to the audience is stuff that would take *forever* to show instead of tell, and would never be said out loud by the character.

and the whole fourth-wall breaking only serves to confuse the plot, at least in a movie like this, where it's paramount that the parents remain completely ignorant and clueless about the real motives, and real events.

No, it doesn't confuse anything. You're creating confusion where there isn't any by trying to force the fourth-wall-breaking to be something that it isn't (and is never hinted to be). It is entirely a fourth-wall-breaking comment to the *audience*; it does not exist in the "in-movie Universe" and therefore has no impact on what his parents know or don't know.

I have no idea how you would wrap your mind around the 1940s movie Hellzapoppin', in which characters on the screen occasionally talk directly to the movie's projectionist (asking to see that last part again, or complaining that the picture isn't framed correctly on the screen). And the projectionist answers.

[–] boxerrebellion 8 years ago

Great response. I would only add that by breaking the fourth wall, Ferris has invited us (the audience) along on his adventure; we become part of the conspiracy.

[–] Movie_Riggs 9 years ago

That's the real darn question about breaking the fourth wall. They're going to be doing that with 'Deadpool', and they've already done it with this movie and the two 'Wayne's World' flicks. I think it is meant only for humorous purposes. We're not supposed to dig that deep. If I were going to explain it, I'd say it was him doing anything from narrating his own life to talking to an invisible friend. There's no real sensible answer for it, and that's why we're not supposed to dig that deep. In breaking the fourth wall, it's almost like the characters know they are in a movie. The in-movie universe exists somewhere else entirely, but they know they are being watched, so they're talking to us, helping us out. The tagline is "leisure rules", and maybe Ferris knows this. He's making sure we're taking mental notes about what's important.

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

" I think it is meant only for humorous purposes. We're not supposed to dig that deep. "

That is the real answer. No need to over-analyze it. Just like after the credits when he looks into the camera and tells the audience it is over, go home. I clearly remember that, as I have always sat and waited until all the credits finished. It was a pleasant surprise, something I had never witnessed before. Most of the audience had already walked out.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.

[–] antonasmodeus 9 years ago

Actually Ferris was schizophrenic. He was talking to himself and hallucinating all the text on the screen.

[–] HorrorFanatic24 8 years ago

He's bi polar

[–] BorisKarpov 8 years ago

I know that breaking the fourth wall is a moviemaking and theatrical gimmick, and that's fine.

thats exactly what happened , nothing else

[–] TeenGangDeb 8 years ago

Your mom.

++++++
Love means never having to say you're ugly. - The Abominable Dr. Phibes

[–] BorisKarpov 8 years ago

2016, yo momma joke---nice

[–] TeenGangDeb 8 years ago

never gets old

++++++
Love means never having to say you're ugly. - The Abominable Dr. Phibes

[–] CigarDoug 8 years ago

never gets old

Unlike your mom.

[–] BorisKarpov 8 years ago

never gets old

Unlike your mom.

thats what yo mama said

[–] CigarDoug 8 years ago

A mama joke on top of a mom joke? That's very meta. As in, I meta yo mama after she got off work yesterday.

[–] nutsberryfarm 8 years ago

you.

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