Ferris Bueller... All in Cameron's Mind?

While I love John Hughes' films as what they represent, (young adults that I can relate to, and classic 80's setting and fashion which I could watch for days on end) I've never felt fully connected to his films as much as other people my age. The Breakfast Club is a favourite among my friends, but I've never really liked it. Same goes for the classic Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

The film doesn't sit right with me. The film relies on the unbelievable events surrounding the title character and his events throughout the day he skips school. Ferris is way too out there to be relateable in anyway, and his ideas and morals are flawed.

Which brings me to his "friend" Cameron. Obviously a troubled individual, who Ferris schemes into spending the day with him and getting him into situations he's obviously not comfortable with. The characters are complete opposites, seemingly used just as a simple character foil, but I believe it has a deeper psychological background: Ferris is all in Cameron's mind.

 Cameron has a dysfunctional home, with an overbearing father. He is socially awkward, and doesn't seem to have any friends other than Ferris - who happens to be the most popular kid in school with a hot girlfriend.

Ferris convinces Cameron to leave his house while he's homesick, and "borrow" his father's beloved car, and he has trouble dealing with and deciding what he will do. When he does, his day becomes fantastic, and the entire city cheers for Ferris to feel better - which just shows how Cameron yearns for friends and family who care for him. Ferris' girlfriend represents maybe a girl he has a crush on, or how life and love comes easy for the popular kids.

When his father's car crashes at the end of the film, Cameron realizes he has to stick up to his father. At this point, he gets rid of Ferris and Sloan, and is faced to continue on his own. His characters receive happy endings, where Cameron's fate is unknown.

This perception of the film has made me more interested in Cameron's character, and just gives me more evidence every time I view it. While I understand the appeal of a film about a kid who can do whatever he wants, the psychological tale I've embedded into my head makes the film more entertaining and believable.

Images from themovieblog.com and raw-sugar-adventures.blogspot.com