Thanks for the memories!

Powerful

Excellent but underrated film

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

And "Uncle Buck" used to be one of my favorite as a kid although I only saw it two times, but it left some nice memories. So, I thought after reading Ebert's review, and listening to his negative comments (approved by Siskel), I would look at the film with more perplex eyes, but no, I think there's a lot to like and well, the stuff to dislike has aged better than many seemingly irreproachable movies.Still, having watched it again, after 25 years, I think there's a sort of darkness and sadness about the whole material that I failed to notice as a kid. I realize it deals with leaving your hometown, which I can relate to, or difficult relationships, which I also can relate to. I realized that there's a real dead-end as far as communication goes between the mother and her girl, and it's not like there's any breach where you can get some air. Jean Louisa Kelly really creates some tension in what should have been your quiet little suburban house life.But again, I didn't notice that, as a kid. Maybe because the main character is played by the lovable John Candy and it's just impossible to see anything dark behind that big, huggable, teddy-bear of a man. I feel like reducing the actor to a specific range of characters he used to play but to put it simply, that's what made any of his movies enjoyable on the simple basis of his presence, he really illuminated the screen.He had already graced the screen in John Hughes' classic "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" but after being Del Griffith, I think Candy needed a character as rough and rugged and somewhat twisted as Buck, to explore a much darker side albeit not on an ethical level. Sure, he's the 'lovable uncle' and outsider of the family but he could speak for himself, use some subtle threats and even engage in a battle of wits and wills with the troubled niece.In fact the film is driven by two opposite dynamics, funny and touching interactions with the two good kids played by Macaulay Culkin (in his pre-Home Alone) and Gaby Hoffman and the more serious rivalry between with Kelly, played the bitter adolescent. One thing about Culkin, he's really a scene-stealer and I'm pretty sure the film convinced the producers to hire him for "Home Alone". But there's just something about Culkin as a secondary character, like in the movie "My Girl". He's present enough to make himself memorable (I just loved that rapid-fire exchange of random questions) and not too much to be a sort of 'gimmick'. There wasn't much interactions with Gaby Hoffman's character though and she was barely noticeable.Retrospectively, I think the bitterness of Tia while being a plot driver was overplayed, not overacted but sometimes, she was so angry and bitter, she was like Daria, you know the animated perpetual malcontent. I couldn't really accept her defiance toward Buck because she felt the same toward everything, there wasn't something to make him the target of her insults. So yes, the film is a comedy but it does have some mean-spiritedness about it. The way the arc of their relationship closes is also problematic because it only depended on Buck being right about the kid she hanged out with, but there was nothing in his behavior that indicated he could be a potential rapist.So there's a sort of hidden truth that Buck is the 'right man' because unlike Tia's father, he doesn't live in the comfortable suburban life but he's a street-smart guy who knows the rope and is capable to be a good father figure. Ultimately Buck is another facet of Del Griffith with more assurance and more fitting with the reality of the world. But his personality does indicate a change in Hughes' tone. After that, the iconic 80's director went on writing the "Home Alone" series which feels more like a cartoon version of the heart-warming youth stories he made.Maybe he's less interested in Tia's existential troubles than the idea that an adult knows life better and she should trust him, in fact, even the romantic subplot with Amy Madigan's character says that Buck should value the adult in him before trying to be the "big kid". "Uncle Buck" marks a real departure from Hughes' usual messages, kind of an end of an era for the ending decade.The film is enjoyable while not being in the Top 10 comedies of the 80's. And it's also the last, or one of the last memorable shining performances of John Candy who could never really prove his magnitude as an actor, but showed in "Uncle Buck" that he truly had the potential to be something else. I'll cherish this film as the first that made me familiar with his face until I would say in a good dozen of movies in the early 90's. I still remember that the day my father told me he died he said "Uncle Buck" died. That says it all.

Uncle Buck is another highlight on John Hughe's film reel. It's a screwball comedy that is safe for the family, but luckily has many laughs to go along with that statement. John Candy is a comedian that died before his time, but thankfully he was able to make this movie as this is one of his best roles. The movie has a sweet message and it shows that even the slob of an uncle can show love. John Hughes's film is about a man named Buck who has a very lazy life and has a girlfriend who is very disapproving. After a tragedy occurs, Uncle Buck is called to his brother's house where he is tasked to look after the three children: two younger ones and a rebellious teenager. Uncle Buck must prove that he is up to the task. I think the film has some pretty good acting. John Candy is at his best in the lead role. Always the sweet guy and it is not hard to root for him despite his clumsiness. Amy Madigan was pretty good at playing the angry girlfriend. Before Macaulay Culkin became known for Home Alone, he was good in this role as one of the young children. Overall, Uncle Buck is a very sweet comedy. Perhaps it's too sweet for its own good, but this is a great bet if you want to watch a movie with the family. It's funny, but its not vulgar. I do like those sort of comedies, but when I want something safe and pleasant, I now I can count on the talents of John Hughes and John Candy. My Grade: A-

The Late/Great John Hughes delivers a gem of a film with 'Uncle Buck'. A super sweet, light-hearted film, about family & relationships. Its a film with a big heart!'Uncle Buck' Synopsis: Bachelor and all round slob, Buck, babysits his brother's rebellious teenage daughter and her cute younger brother and sister.'Uncle Buck' works because Hughes constructs a solid Screenplay. The Writing is extremely sharp, and the protagonist is very well-defined. There aren't many sub-plots, and even the minor ones that are laced in the Screenplay, don't come across as unwanted guests. Hughes's Direction is decent, as always. Cinematography offers clarity. Editing is rightly done. Performance-Wise: The Late/Great John Candy brings Uncle Buck to life, with a stupendous performance. He's cute, lovable & genuine, all through. Undoubtedly, this is among his best performances ever. Jean Louisa Kelly is highly effective, while Macaulay Culkin & Gaby Hoffmann are adorable. Amy Madigan is first-rate. Others lend fair support.On the whole, Sit Back, Relax & Enjoy 'Uncle Buck'.

"Uncle Buck" is a wholesome family film that was written and directed by the late John Hughes who steps out of his parameters of teen comedies and casts John Candy as the bumbling but lovable slob named Uncle Buck who reluctantly but graciously watched over his brother's three children while he and his wife (Garrett M. Brown and Elaine Bromka) go to Indianapolis to attend her sick father. Uncle Buck has found the approval of the two younger siblings Miles and Maizy (Macaulay Culkin and Gabby Hoffmann), but is in a battle zone with his eternally bitter and moody oldest niece Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly). She's the typical rebellious teenager who's going through this stage in her life where she wants to be independent and doesn't want any adult rob her of her happiness let alone Uncle Buck and is in a relationship with an obnoxious punk named Bug (Jay Underwood). This was the pinnacle film for Macaulay Culkin who would later become the top grossing kids star from 1989 to 1994 when his bravado faded out. One of his moments was when he started trivializing Buck with personal questions and Buck responds with quick, passive-aggressive responses, which ends with hims saying, "I'm a kid, that's my job." Gabby Hoffmann has also went on a subtle movie career after this including her affectionate performance in the Kevin Costner vehicle "Field of Dreams", she also was very charming as the equally intelligent youngest child Maizy Russell. The two characters that truly are the centrepiece of this film is the performances of John Candy and Jean Louisa Kelly who plays the angered Tia. One of the remarkable things about Buck is that he can understand her psyche that seems rather blind to her parents. He also strangely knows what's going on the the cranium of her boyfriend Bug. When he tells Tia that Bug is just using her for some intercourse, he tells her that Bug was the character that Buck was at one time. He's never afraid to humiliate Tia any way possible even in front of her friends just to make his point clear. By the end of the movie, she learns her ways and realizes that he's not as dumb as he looks and she also tries to repair his estranged relationship with his girlfriend who sells tires Chanice (Amy Madigan). Buck also seems to provide more entertainment to the younger kids which is more than their parents could provide for them including having a pancake feast to celebrate Miles' birthday. He also confronts a drunken clown who can barely raise his fingers to reach the door knob. Buck can multitask and handle any problem with the snap of his fingers. John Candy was a brilliant comic actor. Even when he becomes snarky, he's still lovable like a teddy bear. He even had that certain edge to him like other great clowns reminiscent to the silent film era. When he's verbally abused you just want to hug him like a teddy bear. Even when he can't finish telephone conversation only John Candy could pull something like that off. Uncle Buck is a caricature taken from the penmanship of Mr. Hughes and combined with a warm heart and funny dialogue, you can't help but adore the lovable charm that Uncle Buck provides. He will stop at nothing to defend his family's honour including a memorable scene where Buck goes to Maizy's school and confronts her principal who sports an ugly mole on her chin. When she tells Buck that Maizy isn't at the same pace as her other students, he retorts back at her and ends by telling her to get a rat to gnaw off that ugly mole off her face. As the 1980's were coming to a close, "Uncle Buck" was a memorable John Hughes film. It also carried a character that comes closet to the real character that the late John Candy was. It also made Macaulay Culkin the most watchable child actor of the 1990's. Other notable performances are from Amy Madigan and Laurie Metcalf. The character Uncle Buck himself can be a real person to. If you have an Uncle Buck in your family, consider yourselves as one of the lucky ones.