Movie One Hundred Ninety One
A family crisis causes a need for a babysitter for a rebellious teenage daughter and her two younger siblings, so they call in Uncle Buck.
In the Chicago suburbs, Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and Bob Russell (Garrett M. Brown) live with their teenage daughter Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly), son Miles (Macaulay Culkin), and daughter Maizy (Gaby Hoffman). When Cindy’s father has a heart attack, the parents reluctantly decide to travel to see him and leave the kids in the care of Bob’s good-hearted, but slovenly brother, Buck (John Candy). When Uncle Buck arrives, the young kids immediately take to him due to his fun nature, but Tia constantly puts up a battle that only a teenage girl could.
Uncle Buck was part one of my two part John Candy marathon alongside The Great Outdoors. As one of the numerous John Hughes films starring John Candy, Uncle Buck is one of my favorites, after Planes, Trains & Automobiles. When John Candy is playing a funny, good-natured guy that just can’t catch a break, I immediately empathize. Buck Russell is a good guy that can’t seem to get his own life in order but you can’t help but love. Toss in some cute kids to lighten the mood and it’s a recipe for success.
I grew up watching John Hughes movies and it’s funny that so many of them are similar but still seem totally original and always enjoyable. Uncle Buck is one of those movies that defines Hughes’ non high school films and will likely stand the test of time. It’s easy to compare Candy’s roles here and Planes, Trains & Automobiles, they are quite similar but have different motivations and instead of Steve Martin to riff off of, Candy has young Culkin and Hoffman and himself. The role of Buck really lets Candy shine on his own and that is what helps make Uncle Buck special.
While it may not be the laugh out loud comedy that you keep coming back to, Uncle Buck is one of those movies that just makes you feel good. The movie has a big heart and a solid sense of humor and it plays to those strengths. As part of the legacy of both John Hughes and John Candy, Uncle Buck is surely a winner.
I give it 4 “I’m a kid, that’s my job”s out of 5.
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I’m a fan of John Hughes, but I haven’t seen this one. I’ll have to put it on my Netflix que. Nice review.
Oh man, it’s good stuff and it’s not just nostalgia that makes the film good. I think you’ll like it.
I remember watching this for the first time a few years back. It was one of my favorites for a while, but it’s been a year or two since I last saw it. John Candy was amazingly awesome in this one.
It had been a couple years since I last watched it and I laughed out loud at all the same parts. When I think of John Candy I think of Uncle Buck.
LOL – here’s a quarter – go find a rat to gnaw that thing off your face…
Haha I love that scene
I’m Moley Russell’s wart!
LOL!!!
Hahaha A+
I’m Buck Melanoma. Moley Russell’s wart. Not her wart. Not her wart! I’m… I’m the wart. She’s my tumor. My… my growth. My… uh, my pimple. I’m Uncle Wart. Just old Buck “Wart” Russell. That’s what they call me, or Melanoma Head. They’ll call me that. “Melanoma Head’s coming.” I’m s… uncle! Maisy Russell’s uncle!
Great scene; superb film; excellent post 🙂
Hahahaha
Indeed – Thank you!
The 1980s rules.
And we all miss John Candy.
That’s all.
Amen.
John Candy was such a gem, and it’s a pretty even tie for me between his role in “Uncle Buck” and “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” Loved them both equally and he was great in both. Might have to rent this one again since it’s been so long since I’ve seen it.
Planes makes me tear up at the end every time, Buck doesn’t have that emotional impact so I give the edge to Planes. I like them both, though. Give it another go, chances are you’ll love it all the same, maybe even more.
It makes me tear up everytime too. They are both great flicks and like you said, will have to check out Uncle Buck again!
Great review Andy. This movie is a classic and I don’t care what anybody says! Candy was one of the funniest men working at that time and it’s such a shame that he had to leave so suddenly. Him and John Hughes are always missed.
They will indeed be missed. Luckily, together they gave us lots of great memories.
Great review dude! I absolutely love, love, love that film and haven’t seen it in ages. Your review has got me wanting to watch it. 🙂
Watch it!
I will! 😀
One of my favorites. There was just something so powerful about such a simple movie. I miss movies like this. Great review.
I miss movies like this too. I was actually thinking about what this movie would be like if it was made now…It would most likely star Steve Carrell and be more Sundance-y. Could still be good, but it wouldn’t be even close to the same.
If it was made today it would lose a lot of that magic. I guess maybe I’m biased towards eighties movies, but they seem to have something about them.
So true
Uncle Buck is definitely one of my favorite John Candy films.
It’s definitely the role I think of when I think of him.
I love this movie! Grew up with it!!! My favorite scene is when Uncle Bucky goes to the wrong house in the middle of the night. He totally cusses out the neighbor’s house, only to find out that his brother was across the street. Still cracks me up to this day! LOL
Hahaha yeah, that is classic!
I love 1980s/early 1990s comedy movies. Especially literally any movie John Candy was in. Uncle Buck, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Spaceballs, Rookie of the Year, Cool Runnings and one of my all time favourite movies – Brewster’s Millions!!
John Candy was pretty much unstoppable during that time, it’s really a shame he went too soon.
I’ve gotta watch Brewster’s Millions again…Too long.
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truly, there is no way not to like this movie, I love it to bits and when the funky cold medina song starts I get goosebumps all the time…
It’s a film that if it fails to put a smile on your face, you have you no soul.
I don’t remember this very well, since I was fairly young when I saw it, but I remember laughing at it. I’ve been meaning to catch it again now that I’m an adult; glad to hear it holds up pretty well.
You may “get” some of the parts more and you’ll probably laugh at all the same parts. It’s a good for all ages comedy.
I saw it back in 1989 (23 years ago…wow) and I can’t remember anything about it other than Macaulay Culkin was in it (before Home Alone) Check out Rocket Gibraltar for his film debut. Perhaps it’s time I re-visited this film.
Rocket Gibraltar rings a bell, but I don’t think I’ve seen it. I’ll check it out! I think you’ll appreciate giving Uncle Buck a shot now, still a great film.
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God, I haven’t seen this since I was a kid. I remember really loving the parts with the teenage daughter though. I need to do a nostalgia movie marathon, methinks.
Yeah! Nostalgia-thon 2012. Do it!!
Haha, love that name!
I’d like to get in on it too, I have so many classic childhood movies to rewatch.
We should totally do this thing! Like maybe September can be nostalgia month and we can cross promote?
I’m down!
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