For those who've seen it before, it's a chance to go back to those days when Yello was the height of funkiness. For the five or six of you who have never seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off, a quick synopsis. A high school student (Broderick) wags school for the day. That's it. The whole plot.

Well, not quite. There's Ferris' neurotic best friend Cameron (Ruck), his gorgeous girlfriend Sloane (Sara), the edgy principal who's desperate to capture this truant (Jones), Ferris' uptight (and envious) sister Jeannie (Grey). And as the general assumption that Ferris is suffering from a serious illness starts to spiral out of control, Ferris gets himself, his girlfriend and his friend into and out of the high points of Chicago (including a strangely touching scene at the Chicago Art Museum involving Cameron and the picture 'Sunday on the Island of La Grande Jatte' by George Suerat).

Okay, so this has its occasional 'John Hughes Vomity Message' bits, but thank god this ain't no The Breakfast Club. This is a film largely dedicated to one thing-the celebration of those joyous moments in life where you have nothing to do and everything to live for. Ah, leisure! I remember when I had that.....

PS. For collectors of film trivia, it may be worthwhile to note that Charlie Sheen has claimed, for his brief appearance near the end of the film, his drugged-out look was generated by staying awake for 48 hours before the shoot. We all believe him, too.

'The music is on his side.' How corny is this movie? VERY! There is no doubt about it, this film is pure teen-angst circa 1980. However this film is a must-see for the following important reasons:
1. A young Kevin Bacon (Ren McCormack) shows off his emerging acting ability, his gymnastic skills and a bizarre sense of rhythm in this dance flick. (Wait for the scene in the warehouse!)
2. A soundtrack that has more songs played at Blue Light Discos than the soundtracks to Dirty Dancing and Flashdance combined. Do you remember 'Let's Hear it for the Boy'?)
3. Features a performance from John Lithgow in his pre-alien period.
4. It's set in Iowa.
And finally it has an almost unbelievably thin plot. Big city boy takes on small town life in the form of a overbearing preacher, who wait for it....has banned all that sinful music and dancing!

If you wanted to get deep about this film, you could see it as a strong indictment of Puritan values and small town America, and the never ceasing battle for the right to individual expression. But actually; Footloose is just a nice uncomplicated little film, with a brilliant soundtrack, wonderful fashion tips, and a dancing Kevin Bacon. What more could you ask for?!