Uncle Buck

Over a ten year stretch that started in 1984 with Sixteen Candles, director John Hughes made a handful of movies that are as iconic as anything that came out of the 1980s. Over 25 years later, fans still adore these movies like The Breakfast Club, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Ferris Bueller among many, many others that he either wrote or produced. And even though he hadn't made a movie in over 10 years before his death this past August, Hughes will always be a fan favorite.

His movies tended to be dramedies, stories based in some sort of real life --families, friends, co-workers, high school -- that had lots of humor in them. To call them one or the other, drama or comedy, wouldn't be fair because they were more than that. Sure, they made you laugh, but there was almost always some sort of message to go with. A sappy, corny, grab the Kleenex kind of message, but it still counts. Of all the movies he was involved in, one of the most underrated has to be 1989's Uncle Buck, one of only eight movies Hughes actually directed.

Right up there with Planes, Trains, and Automobiles two years prior as his funniest movie, Hughes delivers a classic with this story. The Russell family has recently moved to north suburban Chicago to make more cash. Late one night, they get a phone call from family that saying the mother's dad has had a heart attack. The parents decide to head off to Indianapolis to be with him, but who can watch the three kids? The only option is Uncle Buck (John Candy), a freewheeling bachelor and basically the black sheep of the family who hasn't seen his nieces and nephews for years.

So while the parents are away, Uncle Buck moves in and has to run the family. Two of the kids, Miles (pre-Home Alone Macaulay Culkin) and Maizy (Gaby Hoffmann), warm up to him right away even though they haven't seen him for years. Not so easy to warm up is 15-year old Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly) who is basically the definition of an angry teenager. She's pissed at her parents for moving them from Indy to Chicago and takes it out by being pissed at the world. Buck does his best to keep the house going while also dealing with his longtime girlfriend Chanise (Amy Madigan) who is trying to get him to marry her.

Right up there with John Belushi and Chris Farley, John Candy was a comedian and movie star that was taken too early as he died in 1994 at the age of 44. From his early days with Second City and SCTV to his movies throughout the 80s, Candy was one of the funniest guys around whether it be in television or movie. Obviously a big man, he was a hilarious physical actor -- check this dance scene out -- who could also deliver a line so deadpan, so perfectly he could have you falling out of your seat. Watch this scene with Culkin that shows off that ability.

It's Candy who carries the movie, nailing all three different relationships the character requires. Culkin and Hoffman are great with Candy, and Louisa Kelly is perfectly evil as the bitchy teenager. Amy Madigan comes in and out of the story in an effort to help Buck grow up (whether he wants to or not), and Laurie Metcalf has a funny part as a recently divorced neighbor who sets her sights on Buck. Her introduction, sneaking up on Buck ''doing the laundry," is one of the funniest scenes in the movie. The supporting cast is great, but it's John Candy's movie and he doesn't disappoint. Ranks with 'P, T and A' as his best part.

Most of the sappy family happy ending is saved for the last 10 minutes or so, but it never feels too forced. Of course it's meant to pull at your heart strings, but 95 minutes in or so we've gotten to know the characters pretty well and root for them to be happy. It's a John Hughes movie after all, there is going to be a happy ending so get used to it. If you've seen other Hughes movies and liked them, this is a sure thing. You won't be disappointed.

Uncle Buck <---trailer (1989): *** 1/2 /****