Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of those classic films that still gets referenced to this day.
A movie about a guy planning and executing his perfect day is such an ideal, that so much can fly under the radar.
It isn't until you think about it, that some inconsistencies arise.
Like, how did he know he'd need to call Rooney while Cameron pretended to call as Mr. Peterson? How could he commandeer an entire parade and the whole city just goes with it?
Or what is up with the fourth wall breaks?
This hasn't stopped people from loving the movie, of course.
Luckily, Redditor duncandy has a theory that solves this problem and ties the movie together with another film classic, Groundhog Day. Yes, this theory suggests Ferris can plan for every contingency because he's lived through all the failures.
And it's not bad.
from FanTheories
It even covers little details, such as his perfect catch at the baseball game or his ability to hack into his school's database and change his record.
There is even some dialogue to support it.
When his parents ask how he got so perfect, what does he say?
"Years of practice."
Mind = blown.
"The theory makes even more sense when you consider that perhaps, like the actual Groundhog Day, the "point" of the loop is to make Ferris reconsider every aspect of his day and approach to life and actually achieve something by helping someone else (Cameron) and perfecting the romance in his life (Sloane)"
- BeefPieSoup
"I really, really dig this theory. May I add that the day we see in the movie is his "final day" in the loop? Through his actions, he is finally found worthy by the universe to escape the loop.
Maybe it's the universe he is talking to. Maybe his intention is being so cool and entertaining because he is trying to appease the gods (think Cabin in the Woods).
My two cents."
- gunguolf
"This is awesome! It also puts a new spin on the very end of the movie where he tells everyone that "it's over". He's finally accomplished the "perfect" day"
- Prince_In_Tha_Club
This isn't a perfect theory.
Rarely is any theory perfect. It does try to explain the fourth wall breaks as Ferris losing his mind due to the repeating loops.
And it doesn't explain his surprise or failed attempt at fixing the odometer on the car.
And Reddit won't let us have any fun.
"I like this theory a lot. but how about the miles on the car?
He lies to Cameron and has to play it off everyday like it's news to him that odometers don't work that way?"
- One_Winged_Rook
This is the long one.
"How do you count then the scene where Rooney shows up on Ferris' doorstep? If Ferris had calculated this day precisely, seeing Rooney there wouldn't have been as much of a genuine shock. In fact, he would have known Rooney was following him throughout the day and would have had a better plan. Same deal with when Cameron jumping into the pool and Ferris getting worried, surprised and upset.
"If he's mastered enough iterations of his day by now, he could have seen that coming from Cameron and probably wouldn't have gone to the pool at all (unless this is their first time trying that in his iteration, but doubt it). Oh and then seeing his dad at the restaurant too, would have known to go somewhere else. And then also if Ferris knew the parking lot guys would joyride with the ferrari, he would have avoided parking it there in the first place, dealing with Cameron's freakout was a big damper on the day.
"I like this theory a lot, puts a fun new spin on the movie. But in the end it's all owed up to Ferris' charisma and likability, that any snafu he gets into he can immediately get out of, that he can wander onto a Chicago parade float no questions asked and lead a performance of Twist and Shout for the whole city just because he's Ferris."
- GoesOff_On_Tangent
Overall, it's another fun thought to have about the movie. The next time you watch, maybe consider how much practice you'd need to make one of Ferris' hair-brained schemes work.
