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Uncle Buck Customer Reviews (19 - 21 of 43 Reviews)

Would you want an uncle like Uncle Buck?
After seeing an uncle I hadn't seen in 11 years just after New Year, I've decided I'd rather stick with an uncle that I don't see so often rather than Uncle Buck. No offence to others who DO have an uncle like that, but I don't think I could handle it. I'd probably act too much like Tia as well. Although with better taste in guys.

I like the way John Candy's afore-mentioned character manages to befriend the younger kids first (adorably played by Gabby Hoffman and Maculay Culkin) and towards the end, there's a sweet, though predictable scene with Tia, played by Jean Louise Kelly. I didn't see too much about Tia not getting along with her mother too much earlier in the film, so the ending was a bit weird for me. I have to say John Candy did play the character of Uncle Buck very well, and he was enjoyable to watch - even if I do get him constantly muddled up with John Goodman.

Look out for Jay Underwood playing Bug, particularly if you've watched The Boy Who Could Fly. He's unrecognisable now.

This is a fluffy movie, what you'd really expect from John Hughes, and it's perfect while you're wasting some time until your boyfriend comes home. Watch once, I wouldn't say it was a regular film to watch.

A funny movie with a disturbing dark side
Uncle Buck is a very funny movie, of course, but I am fascinated by it for another reason. It's an unusual comedy, in which goofiness (giant pancakes, a dog who lives in the washing machine, microwaving the laundry, expensive plates being smashed for no reason) covers up an awful lot of darkness and even cynicism. In other words, it's not a black comedy but has some drama hidden it it. I won't give a plot synopsis, but the darkness involves:
-Buck's rich sister-in-law (whom he babysits for when no one else can be found) is a snob. It's understandable that she'd like to avoid bringing in Buck, an unemployed gambler who hangs out with "trashy" people; but she even looks down on Buck's girlfriend for owning a tire company.
-Before the family emergency that forces the parents to leave and call Buck, there is a family dinner scene that shows the parents obviously are work-obsessed, with no idea what's going on in their kids' lives. As a result, the two younger kids (who are six and eight[?]), are precocious in a bad way: they are obnoxious, sardonic and all-knowing, and seem to have had their sex education already.
-Buck's rebellious niece, Tia, is nearly raped at a party by her punk boyfriend. This is not shown, but he kicks Tia out of the party, and Buck finds him in bed with another girl.
There is also very heavy swearing (damn, hell, s**t, SOB), some sexual innuendo, and comedic violence (two punches, and a character hit with a golf ball). This movie is not for kids unless they are very naive.

Release a special edition NOW!
As with all John Candy movies, I saw UB in the theatre, bought the video, then the laserdisc, then the dvd. Widescreen - sweet. But now it's high time we have a deluxe special edition - deleted scenes, documentary, "Remembering John" featurettes, outtakes........ Wait.....but this is Universal, right? Ah, well, I guess we're supposed to be grateful they bothered to put this on dvd at all! They're too busy releasing anniversary editions of the Blues Brothers every 5 years! It's depressing enough that the Candyman has been dead for over a decade, and the other John - Hughes - seems to have retired from directing for good. If Hughes really wants to honor the memory of Candy, then he'll push for a dvd of Criterion Calibur.

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