Review of Uncle Buck

Uncle Buck (1989)
6/10
Typical Candy Performance
5 May 2003
One must concede that John Candy had the role of the lovable loser down to a perfect "T". Over and over again he plays variations on the same character and does it well. Here he plays Buck Russell, a shifty type who makes his living apparently by fixing horse races and who is suddenly forced by circumstances to look after his brother's children for a few days.

It's billed as a comedy, but to be honest I didn't find it all that funny, although there were a few chuckles, particularly as Buck tries to protect his niece Tia's honour (very much against her will.) But in spite of the lack of laughs I found the movie strangely compelling and never had the urge to tune it out.

Jean Louise Kelly put on a marvellous performance as the attitude-filled Tia, and it was interesting to see a very young Macauley Culkin in something other than the "Home Alone" series, playing her brother Miles.

Overall this is certainly not a masterpiece, but it's an OK timewaster in spite of the lack of laughs.

6/10
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