The master of 1980’s and early 90’s cinema John Hughes crafts a delightful tale of familial dysfunction spawning familial togetherness in suburbia. The Russell family live in an upper-middle class bubble that is burst when Mrs. Russell’s father has a heart attack. In a frantic move to find someone to take care of their three children, Mr. Russell employs the services of his slob of a brother Buck (John Candy). Hilarity ensues (to a point).
Buck has a good heart, but little common sense when it comes to taking care of children. The youngest two Russell children, 8-year old Miles (Macaulay Culkin) and 6-year old Maizy, fall in love with their goofy uncle immediately, but Buck has to work on the antagonizing 15-year old Tia. The two butt heads over a number of issues, including Tia’s boyfriend, whom Buck doesn’t trust for a second.
The tension between Buck and Tia isn’t unlike the tension Tia manufactures with her parents. The family recently moved so Tia tries to make everyone’s lives miserable to show her displeasure. Too bad for her that Buck sees right through her act and only fights fire with fire. Tia crosses a few lines, including sabotaging Buck’s relationship with his girlfriend, but Buck never gives up on his niece.
John Candy was part of a generation of comedic greats that just exude humor in everything they do. His performance as Buck is nearly flawless and he hits all his lines with perfect timing and deft skill. Macaulay Culkin shows off his skills as well, but the rest of the supporting cast is forgettable. Still, Hughes knows how to write comedy and he knows how to bring it out of his actors.
Unfortunately, the dysfunctionality of the Russell family doesn’t remain intact for the duration of the film. The final third of the film deals with Buck leveling with angsty Tia and her eventual turnaround from her mopey, selfish antics. As Mr. and Mrs. Russell return, Buck makes a triumphant exit as a half-witted difference maker. Hughes is known for sappy endings, so I wasn’t too surprised when the comedy subsided for 10-15 minutes in place of serious family-building, but it dilutes the fun of what had been a joyous comedic romp up to that point.
I’ve never been a big fan of message films being coated with a thick comedic shell. I like my comedies funny the whole way through. Maybe I’m a bit unreasonable in that regard, but once you get through the comedy and into the message, the taste isn’t as sweet and it’s a minor letdown. Fortunately there is just enough fun in Uncle Buck to make you forget the boring parts.
The master of 1980’s and early 90’s cinema John Hughes crafts a delightful tale of familial dysfunction spawning familial togetherness in suburbia. The Russell family live in an upper-middle class bubble that is burst when Mrs. Russell’s father has a heart attack. In a frantic move to find someone to take care of their three children, Mr. Russell employs the services of his slob of a brother Buck (John Candy). Hilarity ensues (to a point).
