In the 1986 hit film "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," Ferris (Matthew Broderick) argues that he shouldn't have to study for a test on European socialism because "I'm not European, I don't plan on being European. So who gives a crap if they're socialists? They could be fascist anarchists, it still doesn't change the fact that I don't own a car."
He owns one now.
After a short tease that buzzed around the Internet last week, Honda has now released its full much-talked-about Ferris Bueller Super Bowl commercial, and Ferris fans are in luck. The two-and-a-half-minute long ad does a fine job of recreating the day off Ferris and pals shared in Chicago, just transported to Los Angeles.
Broderick, in a luxurious hotel room, calls in sick to whatever movie he's filming, and heads out on the town. Many of the famous quotes from the film are revisited here, with a hotel valet calling out "Broderick ... Broderick" instead of economics teacher Ben Stein droning "Bueller ... Bueller" in the film.
His day of adventure lacks pals Cameron and Sloane (come on, were Alan Ruck and Mia Sara that busy?), and he's driving a Honda CR-V instead of the famous red Ferrari, but many of the activities mirror those from the movie. He's seen cheering in the stands (and is almost spotted by his boss, the obvious Ed Rooney fill-in), but at a racetrack, not a Cubs game. He pauses and contemplates museum exhibits, but at the Natural History Museum, not the Art Institute of Chicago. (Note that he stares down a walrus, which seems like a tie-in to his movie quote "I could be the walrus, I'd still have to bum rides off people.") He joins a parade and sings on a float, but it's a Chinatown parade, not the German-American Von Steuben Day parade from the movie.
Other scenes from the movie are recreated too -- including the one where he's almost spotted while driving, and only a quick seat changeover saves him.
Fans will see plenty of other homage moments, including the boogeying construction workers at the parade, the CR-V's license plate, the valet who makes off with the car, the "Oh Yeah" song by Yello, the famed "life moves pretty fast" line, and even Ferris' reappearance after the ad appears to be over. Savvy listeners will also hear what sounds to us like the voice of Broderick's wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, in one scene.
Honda promises more than two dozen references to the movie in the ad, and says "some are obvious, some are VERY subtle," and encourages readers to tweet their finds with the Twitter hashtag #dayoff.
Some fans are excited to see the homage to the movie, but others are disappointed because they thought the teaser hinted at a "Ferris" big-screen sequel. Until that happens (and really, could it be anything but a disappointment?), this is the best we got. He's still a righteous dude.
The ad will air during the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 5. on NBC.
What movie moments did you find recreated in the ad? Tell us on Facebook.
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