Uncle Buck [Blu-ray]

Director: John Hughes John Hughes

Overview

In this cheerful, lightweight comedy, excruciatingly clumsy, disorganized, and messy Uncle Buck Russell (John Candy) becomes the screens most unlikely babysitter since Clifton Webb in Sitting Pretty. While their parents are away, eight-year old Miles (Macaulay Culkin), six-year old Maizy (Gaby Hoffman) and their teen-aged sister, Tia (Jean Kelly) are left in the care of Buck. Surprisingly, the very inept Uncle Buck entertains the younger children who come to love him and earns the respect of Tia when he rescues her from her worthless boyfriend. However, in doing so, Buck nearly loses his long-time girlfriend Chanice (Amy Madigan). John Candy is delightful in the leading role giving a touching and notable comic performance. Directed by John Hughes in his typical broad style, this youth-oriented comedy is perhaps the best role of John Candy's regrettably brief career.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/26/2022
UPC:	0810103683464
Original Release:	1989
Rating:	PG
Source:	Universal
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00
Sales rank:	16,427

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

John Candy	Uncle Buck
Amy Madigan	Chanice Kobolowski
Jean Louisa Kelly	Tia,Actor
Macaulay Culkin	Miles
Gaby Hoffmann	Maizy
Elaine Bromka	Cindy
Laurie Metcalf	Marcie Dahlgren-Frost
Jay Underwood	Bug
Brian Tarantina	Rog
Mike Starr	Pooter-the-Clown
Suzanne Shepherd	Mrs. Hogarth
Dennis Cockrum	Pal
Matt Craven	Walt Bernstein
Jerry E. Postt	Marko the Mechanic
Zak Spector	Mechanic
Gigi Casler	Party Girl in Bedroom
Ron Payne	Maizy's Teacher,Voices
Jane Vickerilla	Teacher
Joel Robinson	Miles' Friend
Colin Baumgartner	Miles' Friend
Eric Whiple	Miles' Friend
Mark Rosenthal	Actor
Doug Van Nessen	Party Boy
Wayne Kneeland	Party Boy
Rachel Thompson Perrine	Party Girl
Garrett M. Brown	Bob Russell
Laverne Anderson	Party Girl #1
Gina Doctor	Party Girl #2
Anna Chlumsky	School Child
William Windom	Mr. Hatfield
Granville Ames	Additional Voices
Ramey Ellis	Additional Voices
Patricia Arquette	Additional Voices
Devon Odessa	Additional Voices
Arnold F. Turner	Voices,Voices
Tim Hoskins	Voices
Jack Blessing	Voices
Leigh French	Voices
Laura Jacoby	Voices
Gaby Hoffman	Actor
Ira Newborn	Composer

Technical Credits

John Hughes

John Hughes	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
James Arnett	Stunts,Stunts
Ray Hartwick	Executive Producer
Tom Jacobson	Producer
Bob Beher	Sound Effects
Tom Bellfort	Sound Effects
Dan Cangemi	Special Effects
Ramey E. Ward	Producer
Jeff Jarvis	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Because Uncle Buck was preceded by two of John Candy's most irritating and uninspired star vehicles, The Great Outdoors and Who's Harry Crumb?, audiences who expected more of the same could not be blamed. Lovable in supporting roles but tiresomely slapstick with top billing, Candy had started to go on autopilot through inferior comedies. Uncle Buck did not alter that trajectory, per se, but it provided a charming and heart-warming respite within the larger trend. After Planes, Trains and Automobiles, director John Hughes again shows he can draw out the sympathetic/pitiable side of Candy, rather than just Candy the buffoon. The typical Hughes sentiment again compliments the comedian well. His Buck is still victim of several physical mishaps, but the difference is that the dignified Candy owns them, rather than submitting embarrassed pratfalls in their service. Hughes undercuts the natural tendency to view Buck as a clumsy oaf by gradually revealing him as an earnest, courageous protector of his family unit. It's not that this kind of redemption is surprising in Hollywood, especially for Hughes, but that these ingredients make it work without question. One such ingredient is the first prominent appearance by Macaulay Culkin, who would team with Hughes the writer for Home Alone the following year. Uncle Buck is a superior example of warm domestic comedy oriented around goofball set pieces, one that exceeds limited expectations to become one of the fondest vehicles for its dearly departed star.

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