Uncle Buck

Medium: DVD
Initial Release:  August 16, 1989
I barely had time to react to John Hughes’ VERY sudden death on August 6, 2009.  In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast.  If you don’t stop to look around once in a while, you could miss it.”  Hughes’ legacy to the film industry includes the aforementioned film about a high school kid playing hooky, as well as introducing what most people refer to as The Brat Pack, and some film about a kid who sets traps for dimwitted burglars and screams when he puts aftershave on his cheeks.  However, my favorite John Hughes film was a late 80’s film, which also introduced me to the late, great, John Candy.  This isUncle Buck. 
Uncle Buck is one of those family films that creates conflict by bringing in the odd family member that doesn’t co-exist very well within the regular paradigm. John Candy plays Buck Russell, an out-of-work semi-bachelor who makes all his money off of fixed gambling. He leads a very odd lifestyle that doesn’t mesh well his brother’s family.  The parents have an emergency to take care of in another state when Bob’s wife’s father has a heart attack, and they get Buck (reluctantly) at the very last minute to help take care of the kids.

The comedy happens in the forms of the adjustment that Buck has to make in a suburban home, and the kids having to adjust to him.  I’ve never seen anyone use a vacuum hose to clean the mess of cereal they’ve made on themselves, and I’ve never heard of anyone using the laundry machines as a literal doghouse.  The little kids are a real treat.  Miles and Maizy attempt to rationalize Buck’s actions in their underdeveloped minds, and Buck finds out that they are quick to pick things up quickly.  There are also ridiculous moments, like the gigantic breakfast Buck makes for Miles’ birthday, and how he manages to do the family laundry by a combination of the microwave and the sink, as he cannot figure out how to use the washer and dryer (since it’s the house for the dog).
While some conflict arises through adjusting, there is also tension between Buck and his niece, Tia. Fifteen-year-old Tia has had a big chip on her shoulder ever since the family moved out of Indianapolis, and puts many of her efforts into making it known that they shouldn’t have moved in the first place. Buck takes these attacks like a tank, and responds in kind with empty threats and small props that work on impressionable, young minds.  He also interjects in Tia’s personal life, spotting things that her parents were oblivious to, or wished to remain ignorant of.
In reality, this film is about change.  Buck learns to be a truly responsible adult; take care of the kids, clean up after himself, make sure he sets boundaries and not crack expensive plates on the piano.  He also figures he has to evolve not only his boundaries, but also change his habits and figure out things long term with the possibility of a real job and his girlfriend.  It’s these things that hit home for the viewer, and make you feel for Buck when he goes back and forth on taking the kids to a race track, or makes you cheer when he punches the drunk clown out.