Uncle Buck (1989) User Reviews

Uncomplicated simple and pleasant

[johnrp-1 · 8/10 · 27 December 2004]

I gave this an '8', which is one or two more points than it really should get, but the simple fact is - I enjoy watching it over and over. John Candy shines as Uncle Buck. He brings the character alive and you can't help but wish you had a crazy guy like that as an uncle.

Well, maybe a distant uncle, but still he's warm, lovable and helpless in so many ways. As one would expect, the story is simple, the scenes mostly predictable (except maybe the ax-murder scene?) and of course there's a happy ending.

The little kids, Maisy and Miles, played by Gaby Hoffman and a slightly younger Macaulay Culkin, are simply adorable! The teenage daughter (Jean Louisa Kelly) perfectly portrays a teenage girl in the throws of that classic imbalance between childhood and adulthood.

Anyway - no one dies. No one loses an eye or an arm. No houses burn down. There are no explosions, no fighter jet scenes, no wild car chases - just plain old silly fun.

Go watch it. This is not a request! Uncle Buck says watch it!

Classic John Candy

[dmlaspaluto · 8/10 · 15 July 2011]

Really, this is funny from start to finish, and pretty smart too. A great comedy, this is also a fine movie about growing up - for every character in the film. Obviously, the most important is Uncle Buck himself, a man- child long overdue for some responsibility. But his nieces, nephew, sister-in-law, and even "Bug" ("What is his last name? Spray?") are in for some character development. Of course, Candy and his half-hang-dog, half- know-it-all, and half know-nothing (yes, that's too many halves) together carry the film, but the others hit their marks as well -- kids, teens, and adults as well. There are some classic moments - I think about Buck's friend down at the crime lab who can analyze a toothbrush to make sure the kids brushed their teeth every time my kids claim they've brushed their teeth when I know they didn't spend enough time in there. But mostly this is a comedy with an actual plot, and nicely done.

A seriously overlooked jewel of a comedy!

[TheLittleSongbird · 8/10 · 11 May 2009]

There are some very negative critical reviews on this movie, which I think personally is unjustified. This film is very funny indeed, especially when the bowling ball falls on Buck's head. John Candy gives possibly his best performance here as Buck Russell. John Candy was one talented actor, evident in Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Cool Runnings, and I think comedy lost a truly great actor when he died, and I don't think he ever got the respect he so rightly deserved. This film is very funny indeed, sometimes the jokes are a little over-familiar, and the sentimentality gets in the way at times. Out of the child stars, who were all excellent, Macaulay Culkin of Home Alone fame is a standout. Cute and self-assured suits Culkin like a glove. There was great chemistry between the stars, and in conclusion, see this gem, of which I will award an 8/10 Bethany Cox.

Great performances in an otherwise mediocre movie

[bukketofish · 6/10 · 14 August 2019]

If I had seen this as a teenager when it came out, I'd probably think this was a classic, and for many John Candy fans, I'm sure it is. He delivers a terrific performance, as did his co-stars. But because I'm seeing it for the first time at 52 after having seen thousands of other movies in my life, my bar is set a little higher than when I was young. I expect a little more character development and plausibility, even in a simple comedy like this one. The teenage daughter is way beyond typically rebellious. She's resentful, hurtful, wicked - how did she get that way? What's her problem with U.Buck? What's her problem with her mother? What's the mother's problem with U.Buck, besides him being irresponsible? And you just know the teenager is going to do a full 180 by the end of the movie, but it happens way too easily.

I'd like to see what bits ended up on the cutting room floor that may have filled in these and other gaps, because to me the movie simply seems incomplete. But at the end of the day it's just a trifle of a film, and I'm already taking it way too seriously. It's still John Candy doing what he did best, and you'll miss him as much as ever after seeing Uncle Buck.

Decent Hughes, Decent Candy

[fruktflugan · 6/10 · 2 May 2011]

A decent John Candy movie and a decent John Hughes movie but does not really find a good niche for itself. The movie is very uneven, sometimes the jokes are too adult and sometimes they are too childish. I would hesitate letting my kids watch this all the way through, but at the same time about 40% of the jokes are obviously made for children.

So... It is hard to pigeonhole this. If you are an adult that can stand some humor in this being very low brow and adolescent -plus- have a thing for John Hughes or John Candy-movies then this film probably will satisfy some centra in your brain.

Decent film that suffers on some levels. All in all enjoyable.

6/10 from me.

While it's no "Planes, Trains & Automobiles", this is a pretty funny John Hughes/John Candy film with some good sentiment

[Beta_Gallinger · 7/10 · 16 April 2010]

I've seen several of the movies John Hughes made in the 80's (the decade I was born), none of which have failed to impress me. I first saw his 1987 film, "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" starring John Candy and Steve Martin, in 2006, and thought it was a great comedy. I watched it for the second time late last year, over three years after my first viewing, and this didn't change anything. "Uncle Buck" is another movie written, directed, and produced by Hughes and starring Candy, both of whom are sadly no longer with us. I had known about this film for quite a while by the time I finally saw it, and I wasn't expecting it to be as good as the 1987 movie, which it isn't, but it was still enough to leave me with a good feeling.

Bob and Cindy Russell recently moved from Indianapolis to Chicago with their three offspring, Miles and Maizy, who are both under ten years old, and Tia, who is now a teenager. Cindy is informed that her father has just had a heart attack, so she and her husband plan to go to Indianapolis to visit the ailing man, but first, they will have to find a sitter for their kids. After several failed attempts, it seems they have no choice but to call over Bob's unmarried brother, Buck Russell to take the job, even though he is a lazy, irresponsible slob, which means this could lead to disaster! Nonetheless, Buck agrees to come over and stay with Miles, Maizy, and Tia while his brother and sister-in-law are in Indianapolis. Inevitably, his presence in this household does lead to some trouble, especially with Tia. She does not appreciate her uncle's presence and is currently going through a phase of teen angst and rebelliousness.

At the beginning of this movie, it's not all that great. When Tia (played by Jean Louisa Kelly) first appears, it doesn't take long for one to realize that she is a very unlikable, snotty character, though there are some fairly funny lines in that very early scene with the Russell siblings. I also didn't think Macaulay Culkin (in the role of Miles Russell) talking about a certain dog being a "ball-sniffer" that funny. However, as I had hoped, John Candy does a great job playing the title role. He plays the same kind of character here as he did in "Planes, Trains & Automobiles", a lovable slob. I think his talent really helps carry this film, and his character's antics are probably the main reason why so much of it is funny, with the slapstick and comical dialogue. Around the time when the character leaves his apartment and goes to the family's house, I was laughing very hard, with scenes such as his phone conversation before he leaves and Buck knocking on the wrong door when he arrives. If it stayed this way for the rest of the film, I would be giving it at least an 8/10, but it doesn't. Tia continues to be snotty, and for much of the film, I laughed a lot but not as hard as before, but Candy's antics still make much of this film entertaining, sometimes hilarious, with the lead character annoying Tia, scaring her boyfriend, the explosion sound his car engine makes, his conversation with the elementary assistant principal, etc. It helps that there are also some good dramatic moments in the movie, especially towards the end.

Basically, what makes this flick inferior to "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" is that it's not as consistent as its predecessor, and the 1987 John Hughes/John Candy collaboration certainly doesn't have any characters that are as off-putting as the Tia character is here. In between those two films, Hughes wrote but didn't direct a comedy entitled "The Great Outdoors", which also features Candy in the cast, but I haven't seen that one, so I don't know how it compares, but "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" and "Uncle Buck" are both funny comedies which can also be serious in some scenes, with good sentiment, and Candy really stands out in both of them. The two movies can also easily leave viewers with a good feeling at the end. I can understand why "Uncle Buck" doesn't have the appeal of its hilarious predecessor, but there is a lot to make it watchable, and it can remind us of the talent Hughes and Candy had.

JOHN CANDY'S FINEST HOUR

[dogcow · 9/10 · 22 September 2002]

Simply Candy's best film, second only to Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Only hughes knew what to do with Candy. He is completely charming as a total hapless slob who invades his newphew and neices life. Every scene in this film is memorable! Its sad such a comic genius is no longer with us, but he will always be rememered. If you see only one John Candy movie make it UNCLE BUCK.

'Buck Melanoma, Moley Russell's Wart'

[CuriosityKilledShawn · 7/10 · 20 February 2011]

John Candy is Buck Russell, a character very similar to Del Griffith from Planes, Trains & Automobiles. It's not surprising since John Hughes is the writer, producer and director of both films. Buck is a simple man with simple pleasures. He likes his freedom, his leisure time, and his bowling. He has a girlfriend who desperately wants him to grow up but...he can't be bothered.

But when Buck is called to the wintry, affluent suburbs to look after his brother's kids for a couple of weeks (much to his sister-in-law's horror) he learns what it's like to be a responsible adult and does surprisingly well with his extended babysitting chore (in his own unique way).

Uncle Buck was Candy's fourth (of five) collaboration with Hughes and the role is clearly tailor-made for him. He may be a slob, and the underdog, but he's the kind of relative you'll all wish you had. The comedy is underplayed and quiet, and the drama involving without being overbearing. It's all just easy-going entertainment that's perfect for brightening up a dull afternoon, and yet another reminder that Hollywood lost someone very special in March 1994.

John Candy is BRILLIANT as Uncle Buck.

[famousgir1 · 10/10 · 16 November 2001]

Uncle Buck is a brilliant and fun comedy for everyone. John Candy plays Uncle Buck, a guy who has to look after his brothers children for a while, as his brother and sister-in-law have to go away. The kids include a rebellious teen, Tia, and two sweet young kids, Maisy and Miles. As well as the great Joh Candy starring here, the just as great Gaby Hoffmann and Macaulay Culkin also star in this movie. I give Uncle Buck a 10/10.

Good comedy

[Atreyu_II · 7/10 · 16 August 2007]

"Uncle Buck" is an okay movie with lots of hilarious moments. This is no slapstick comedy, but it contains some dark and morbid humor... in a funny way, without going farther than that, which is a good thing.

John Candy is pure genius here. The role of uncle Buck Russell was perfect for him. Buck is a very clumsy yet lovable guy, not to mention that he's got a great sense of humor. I also like the other side of his humor: black and sarcastic. He says many funny lines, being «What's his last name, Spray?» only one among numerous others. John Candy was a great comedian. It's sad that he's no longer with us.

Jean Louisa Kelly does a great job by portraying the rebellious and vindictive Tia Russell. Tia has a terrible temper and is spoiled and bratty. Strangely that makes her funny (probably because this is in a movie) but in real life I couldn't stand someone like her.

Macaulay Culkin and Gaby Hoffmann (two talented kids from that time) star as the brothers Miles and Maizy. Both are cool kids, but Miles is the coolest and cutest of the two.

Other actors good in their roles are: Amy Madigan as Chanice Kobolowski, Garrett M. Brown as Bob Russell, Elaine Bromka as Cindy Russell, Laurie Metcalf as Marcie Dahlgren-Frost and Jay Underwood as Bug. (that's really his name? lol)

Another strength of this movie is in its soundtrack. There are plenty of nice and catchy songs, such as "Rhythm of life", "Tweedlee Dee", "Juke Box Baby", "Mr. Sandman" and "Wild Thing".

Uncle Buck's car is awesome. What a cool piece of junk/old land-yacht! It's a 1975 Mercury Marquis Brougham. That car produces unbelievable amounts of smoke through its exhaust pipe and the engine does that explosion-like noise, which only accents the comical effect. But in real life, a car polluting the air like that would make the driver get easily caught by the police. As much as Buck's car is an old wreck, it seems to be a strong car, although a slow one. I also like very much that mouse-like gray Volkswagen Beetle (Pooter-the-Clown's car) - it's sooo cute!

A sensitive, often touching film that was made for John Candy's talents.

[gitrich · 10/10 · 4 December 1998]

Uncle Buck is a lovable character who, though irresponsible at times, loves his brother's children like his own. He winds up trying to deal with more than he bargained for when he must keep track of his teenage niece who tests the limits while her parents are not at home. It is funny and touching, something Candy does very well. This is a movie worth renting and one that teens and up can really enjoy.

I like the unpredictability of Buck

[the_oak · 7/10 · 8 April 2018]

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.

Not really a comedy

[Funkenspalter · 5/10 · 31 August 2023]

The film "Uncle Buck" is not a comedy for me, it's more of a drama and that's because of Tia Russell. Her character kills any kind of perceiving the funnier parts as comedy for me.

If they hadn't written her character so horribly over the top and made her "boyfriend" a bit funnier and she had caught him with someone else herself... well, to make the ending right, a lot of things were written the way they are.

The film without Tia, where he only looks after the little ones and then things go wrong in the household and then maybe a side story with the racetrack and the interested neighbour, would have been a good film, so it is just about bearable. It would have been a real prequel to "Home Alone" and Candy could have used much more of his potential.

You can see the possibilities immediately and if someone with a sense of humour had read the script, a lot could have been fixed. But then it really would have been a comedy and not a moral education film.

Here's a quarter. Go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face.

[Pookyiscute · 11 February 2004]

Candy's best performance ever. As hard as it is to pick a favorite role that John Candy ever portrayed, I'd have to say it was Uncle Buck. Although this wasn't the only title he and Culkin ever shared, it was the only film the two ever shared any time on screen together.

Basic plot: Candy's sister-in-law's father has just had a heart attack in the middle of the night and the two parents rush trying to find someone to watch the kids for them while they hop the next flight to go see her father. In a desperate last resort, they call the husband's brother. Buck. Of course, the concerned uncle comes to the rescue and takes the task with no complaint. However, the oldest of the children doesn't care for her bumbling uncle, and the discipline and protection he places upon her, while her parents are away.

A great heart-warming comedy that will make you laugh and possibly even cry at times. A classic, and certainly a triumph that wouldn't have happened without John Candy. Hollywood truly lost a great actor.

I give this movie a 9 out of 10. One of the funniest and most wonderful stories, but not my favorite.

And that's my review.

John Candy is to die for!

[imseeg · 7/10 · 11 May 2021]

From the same director that gave us "The breakfast Club", "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Planes, Trains and Automobiles". Each of them are comedy classics with a gentle heart...

This movie is in the same spirit as "Home Alone" but only this time around John Candy and a teenage girl are the main focus of the movie, with Macaulay Culkin only playing a smaller supporting role.

The good: this is one of the best John Candy films. Funny (sometimes hilarious) and charming and even with a lighthearted, warmhearted "dramatic" final. Suited for young and old.

The story: John Candy is a bum, who loves to be a bum and who loves his freedom to drink and gamble and bum around. Suddenly he has to take care of his brother's kids for a weekend, which he has never done before. Chaos and wild antics follows and what a joy it is to watch it all !

"Good Comedy!"

[gwnightscream · 7/10 · 25 July 2012]

John Candy, Amy Madigan, Jean Louisa Kelly, Macaulay Culkin, Gaby Hoffmann, Jay Underwood and Laurie Metcalf star in John Hughes' 1989 comedy. Buck Russell (Candy) is a mild-mannered, out of work guy who is asked to help watch his nieces, Tia (Kelly), Maizy (Hoffmann) and nephew, Miles (Culkin) during a family crisis. At first, He gets into mishaps and doesn't get along with Tia, but after a while things get better. Madigan (Field of Dreams) plays Buck's girlfriend, Chanice, Underwood (The Boy Who Could Fly) plays Tia's no good boyfriend, Bug and Metcalf (Roseanne) plays next-door neighbor, Marcy. This is a good comedy that's one of Candy's best I recommend.

Entertaining fluff

[mattymatt4ever · 7/10 · 26 April 2002]

It's a John Hughes flick, don't expect anything deep and philosophical, or even anything unpredictable. What counts is John Candy is the star, and watching this movie on the Disney Channel helps me better realize how much of a great comedian he was. It's been a while since his death, and that's why it's good that they show this movie to pay homage to the great John Candy. The script is sometimes lame, and some of the bits don't work, but most of it does due to Candy's funny antics. His perfect handling of comic moments, including frying up a giant pancake and beating up an alcoholic clown, helps overcome the predictable, fluffy script. Plus, since the movie was made in the late 80s it was great to hear Tone Loc's "Wild Thing."

"Uncle Buck" is harmless family entertainment--far from great, but definitely watchable and quite funny.

My score: 7 (out of 10)

One of Hughes' best

[Quinoa1984 · 10/10 · 4 November 2000]

John Hughes' Uncle Buck is a comedy that isn't as recognized as much as his acclaimed films (Home Alone, Pretty In Pink, Weird Science, Breakfast Club, 16 Candles), but this is just as funny and heartwarming as the others. Courtesy mainly of the lead John Candy as Buck Russell. He brings to the screen sarcastic humor that works best for him. Enjoyable throughout, even if sometimes the mushy stuff is unbearable. Favorite line "He, he, he, you ever hear of a ritual killing? hehehe". A-

Uncle Buck

[jboothmillard · 6/10 · 25 August 2007]

Just a year before Home Alone, its child star and writer/director John Hughes made this enjoyable family comedy, this was the start of Hughes first film focusing on childhood rather than adolescence (Ferris Bueller and The Breakfast Club). Anyway, basically Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and Bob Russell (Garrett M. Brown) and their family have recently moved from Indianapolis to Chicago, but the kids were happy where they were. One night Cindy receives a phone call from her aunt that her father has had a heart attack, and they immediately make plans to visit him. But they urgently need someone to babysit the younger kids, since teenager Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly) refuses to be responsible, and even though Cindy doesn't like, Bob thinks his brother Buck (John Candy, in one of his only great leading roles) can do it. When they are gone, Buck is doing the best he can to please and help the younger kids, Maizy Russell (Gaby Hoffmann) and Miles (Macaulay Culkin, leading towards to stardom), same for the despising Tia. Buck's sloppy but lovable personality and presence have the kids bonding, but he still struggles to please Tia, who he knows has a boyfriend Bug (Jay Underwood) only using her to get sex. Also starring Amy Madigan as Chanice Kobolowski, Scream 2's Laurie Metcalf as Marcie Dahlgren-Frost, Brian Tarantina as E. Roger Coswell, Dumb and Dumber's Mike Starr as Pooter-the-Clown and Suzanne Shepherd as Mrs. Anita Hogarth. It is impossible to hate Candy (character or actor), even with his sloppy nature, Culkin is cute and the perfect choice for Home Alone, and there are plenty of one-liners and near-gross jokes to please everyone. Good!

Great John Candy movie!

[Movie Nuttball · 10/10 · 12 July 2003]

This in My opinion is one of the late great John Candy's best films! The story,acting,music,and cast is just right.The film is very funny and it is never boring.I just love the Uncle Buck character.The character always wants to have a good time,is always kind and does small and big things for people that he doesn't even have to do. I wish more people in the world was like this.Anyway I have seen it many times and in My opinion its a classic!If you haven't seen Uncle Buck and love John Candy,silly and serious comedies then check out this great movie!I highly recommend it!

At least chronologically an adult

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 August 2018]

Uncle Buck is never included many times in a list of good John Hughes films and I think it's because our protagonist is not an adolescent. Uncle Buck is a forty something man who at least is chronolically an adult. He's the kind of footloose character who just won't settle down.

It's a crisis at the Russell household as Elaine Bromka's father has a heart attack and she wants to rush to his side. In this emergency the only available baby and house sitter is her husband Garrett Brown's older unmarried brother good old Uncle Buck played by John Candy.

The younger two Gaby Hoffman and MacCauley Culkin are happy to have their Uncle Buck there because in many way Candy is not that much more mature than them. His real antagonist is teen Jean Louisa Kelly who is not real happy about a lot starting with the Russell family recent move from Indianapolis to Chicago.

In this comedy Candy plays a lovable oaf who does a bit of growing up himself in his babysitting gig. Candy and Kelly are a pair of nasty antagonists and she won't believe him when he says that Jay Underwood who is hot to trot for her lacks character. I mean wouldn't you think so if the character had the nickname of 'Bug'?

Candy also gets a chance to reassess his relationship with long time girl friend Amy Madigan. These two have been going out longer than Nathan Detroit and Adelaide.

Best scene in the film is when Candy pinch hits for mom at a parent teacher conference with Suzanne Shepherd, a most uptight assistant prinipal. Him telling her off is priceless.

One of John Candy's best films, still very funny indeed.

can't go wrong

[miss-freudstein · 9/10 · 10 October 2004]

**POSSIBLE SPOILERS**

'Uncle Buck' is a comedy/drama movie starring John Candy as Buck Russell, Jean Louisa Kelly, Macaulay Culkin and Gaby Hoffmann. When Cindy's father has a heart attack, someone is needed to watch the kids.

Buck is phoned as a last resort, (with the exception of un-contacted neighbour Marcie) and must arrive at their home as soon as possible. Cindy and Bob must go to stay with him in Indianapolis, while Buck (Bob's brother) stays with the children. Cindy doesn't trust Buck. She feels extremely uneasy and nervous about leaving the kids with him. He is a 40 year old, who is not married, has no children, gambles and hates to work. He is a light hearted character, and doesn't like to take things seriously. Things start off on the wrong foot. Miles and Maisy (Culkin and Hoffmann) don't remember him, and he doesn't even remember their names. Tia instantly clashes with him, as she does with her mother. Tia is a sarcastic, angry rebellious fifteen year old girl. She keeps her life to herself, but not her opinions. Buck warns her about the intentions of her boyfriend Bug (Jay Underwood), whom he can see straight through after meeting him.

We can't help but feel sorry for Buck. He grows to love the kids, yet Tia gives him an incredibly hard time. He is hated by Cindy.(She even folded him off of her and Bob's wedding photo) Chanice(Buck's girlfriend) catches Buck with flirtatious Marcie, and gets the wrong idea of what is going on, thanks to Tia, who is trying to make things miserable for Buck.

However, after Tia discovers Buck was right about Bug, we see a special relationship develop between uncle and niece. When Bob and Cindy return home, there is a heart-warming moment between mother and daughter. Uncle Buck's comedy comes fast and frequently. Buck has the greatest comedic role. My personal favourite Buck moments are when he talks to bug about the hatchet in the trunk, chat with Tia about shaving heads, and drill moments. The accompanying sound effects are so well suited here. They have a sci-fi effect, and make Buck seem rather scary to the character opposite, and funny to the viewers. Also note the way that Buck carries out household jobs, such as the washing, drying and ironing. One of the greatest lines in the movie is the 'tune-up' 'ritual killing' line (if you've seen the movie, you'll know!), beaten by the question and answers sequence between Miles and Buck. Brilliant! Miles also comes across as a comedic character. He also seems quite smart and mature for his age. This film is great to watch time and time again. It never loses its comedy value. If you have some time to spare, I suggest filling it with Uncle Buck. You won't be disappointed! My rating of Uncle Buck - 9/10.

John Candy as a misfit uncle watching his nieces and nephew

[Wuchakk · 7/10 · 28 December 2015]

Released in 1989, "Uncle Buck" stars John Candy as a black sheep uncle who housesits in a Chicago suburb while his brother and sister-in-law take an emergency trip. The teen daughter, Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly), takes a dislike to her eccentric uncle and he doesn't help matters by opposing her boyfriend, Bug (Jay Underwood). Amy Madigan is on hand as Buck's sorta girlfriend while Macaulay Culkin and Gaby Hoffmann play the younger kids.

This movie has garnered a decent reputation over the years, but I didn't see it until last night. It's an entertaining, but unexceptional dramedy with Candy as a likable slob, which he plays well. There are quite a few laughs and the conflict between Buck and Tia is entertaining. The redemption of one character and the growth of another are kinda heartwarming.

The film runs 100 minutes and was shot in the 'burbs south of Chicago.

GRADE: Borderline B-/B (6.5/10)

At Times Funny Before Turning Preachy and Mean

[nafps · 3/10 · 10 May 2023]

Candy and Richard Pryor were both great comedians in the 70s and 80s who only rarely were in films as funny as they were. Candy only starred in two good films, Planes Trains and Automobiles, and his greatest one, Only the Lonely, where he showed himself to be a good actor as well as comedian.

This is easily Candy's worst film. His whole appeal is his immense likeability. But here he's a mean SOB half the time, hostile and threatening. He bullies a woman for her appearance and at one point kidnaps and assaults a teenage boy, repeatedly threatening to murder him. Gee, how "lovable" is Uncle Buck, huh?

And Candy is trapped with a co star who plays the worst silver spoon fed stuck up brat you ever saw. No one feels any sympathy for this snob when she and her classmates look down at Candy for having (the horror!) an old car.

It's a John Hughes film, so you know what you're getting: Well off sheltered suburban whites who regard anyone who is not wealthy, suburban, or white as alien or threatening or to be mocked. These suburbanites have so much money they live in McMansions the size of some apartment buildings, with several acre lawns.

This film is strictly white people only, unlike 16 Candles or Weird Science where Asians and Blacks are there just to be laughed at. The twist is that Buck is the outsider for not having money.

You might feel more sympathy for Buck if he didn't become a bully halfway through. There are absolutely ZERO laughs for the last half of the film. Instead it's the pettiest kind of revenge, played for laughs. The niece's boyfriend cheats on her, and she and Buck bond over throwing him in the trunk, threatening to murder him repeatedly by using a drill or running him over, and hitting golf balls at him.

Yes, this is supposed to be "wholesome family fun." Kidnapping, threatening murder repeatedly, and assaulting a minor, all by an adult three times his size and age. About as wholesome as a Dirty Harry film.

Definitely an ugly thing to teach kids. "Violence against your ex boyfriend is A-OK. Get your uncle to do it for you! It will be fun!"

Underrated Gem

[Big Movie Fan · 2 December 2002]

There isn't really much to be said about Uncle Buck. It is very good but it is a simple little film, one of those nice films to watch on a Sunday afternoon without having to rack your brain or think too hard.

The late John Candy excels here as Buck Russell who at first glance is a slob and without much going for him. However, as the film goes on, we learn that Uncle Buck does indeed have a heart. The film really is about a guy who looks like the type of man you would keep your family away from but who is in fact a guy with a heart of gold.

I recommend Uncle Buck to anyone who fancies watching a nice simple little film for the whole family to enjoy. And watch out for the scene with the drunken clown on the doorstep!