Wonderful character development!

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Brilliant and touching

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

John Candy was a brilliant performer, I watched him from his start on SCTV, where he honed his craft to perfection. Come to think of it, most of the actors/comedians on that show are brilliant: Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Andrea Martin, Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis, Martin Short, all of whom have turned in star performances at one time or another. Some of the other reviews have said this is his best role, and I tend to agree, Hughes could really get depths of comedy and pathos out of him. The humanity of this film escaped me when I saw it on its release, and at the time I dismissed it as meandering, but Tia's transformation makes much more sense to me now, and the film as a whole works. But there are two things that bother me about the movie, one of them being Cindy's disdain for Buck, who actually doesn't seem like that bad of a guy. She really doesn't like Buck because his girlfriend works in a tire store? The other thing that bothers me is the over-the-top scene with the vice principal, which doesn't fit the rest of the film, the character is too severe and unrealistic, and gives the impression that it was put there to pad out the film or give Candy an opportunity to mine the scene for laughs. All in all, I'm glad I revisited this film thirty years later, I can appreciate Candy even more, despite the fact that he was eating himself to death. Clearly he gained weight during the shooting of the film, he's obviously heavier by the end.

Roger Ebert gave this movie 1,5 stars out of 4. I don't agree, and I think he just didn't understand the slightly misanthropic elements in the humor. Buck is clearly not normal, so why be surprised that he has these dark sides? This movie is watchable and in the end it has a positive message. The fact that Buck is such a hopeless person, maybe he just needed to find himself and also being allowed to be himself? His sister in law can't stand him, but she is frankly not very nice herself, and when she comes back home and her daughter throws herself into her arms and says she loves her, we feel with them all. Another reviewer said it like this: "Buck saves his family and in the end saves himself." I think that is pretty heavy stuff in what is supposed to be a comedy.

Bob and Cindy Russell have a dilemma: Cindy's father, who lives far away, is sick and they need to go see him. However, who will look after their three children for the several days while they are away? Out of desperation they turn to someone whom they have grave reservations about in terms of his suitability for the job - Bob's single, layabout brother, Buck.Sweet, funny movie, written directed by the master of the poignant- yet-funny 80s comedy-drama, John Hughes. I didn't have high hopes for it initially, suspecting it would be a slapsticky adults vs anarchic children caper. However, while it threatens to go in that direction every now and again, the movie manages to stay focused. Very engaging, and much more than just a comedy. The transformation of Uncle Buck, played superbly by John Candy, from a single slacker to a responsible adult with better parenting skills than most is quite heart-warming and makes the movie into a great drama.Some quite hilarious scenes too, so a good combination of comedy and drama.Unfortunately, probably thanks to some scenes in this movie and Macaulay Culkin's role in it, John Hughes did go down the silly adults-vs-kid (with the kid as the hero) slapstick route soon after this. Within a year, he wrote Home Alone...

Frankly speaking, I am surprised how this movie has only managed a rating of 6.9! It is truly a heartwarming movie, of the kind they don't make anymore, and one which you will watch with a smile on your face throughout! You just don't find this kind of warmth in movies in movies these days. John Candy's finest performance after Plains trains and Automobiles; and add to that the charm of the wonderful kids, and you have a comedy masterpiece! Do not miss this guys. Macaulay Culkin is as usual, at his adorable best as is the other child actor, who played his sister Masey. Like I said, do not miss out on this wonderful movie guys!