Save Ferris From A Sequel

By Josh Tyler: 2007-08-24 02:05:39

Some guy has written a Ferris Bueller’s Day Off sequel script. That in and of itself isn’t news (though it may be a sign that the terrorists are winning). The guy is Rick Rapier (who doesn’t even have an IMDB page and once wrote a movie no one has ever heard of) and from the sounds of things nobody wants his script and it’s not on the fast track to anywhere. He’s resorted to shopping it around to internet sites like Tampabay.com, probably in an attempt to generate internet buzz for the project as a way of convincing studio execs or John Hughes or Mathew Broderick that they should pay some attention to him.

So the fact that some guy has written a Ferris Beuller sequel script isn’t really news until he gets someone with money, cash, or influence to pay attention to it. Then why am I writing about it? To make sure it doesn’t become a news story. Rick Rapier must be stopped.

The thing is, if Rick Rapier thinks touting some sequel script he’s written is going to get Ferris Bueller fans excited, then he’s sorely mistaken. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a nearly perfect film, a pantheon flick if there ever was one. It exists frozen in the 80s for all time, and should never, ever be touched or revisited. If Rick Rapier were actually a fan of Ferris, then he’d know that and would have never written the damn thing in the first place. The fact that he thinks touting it on the internet will actually get people to support it is almost laughable. I refuse to believe that any true Ferris fan worth his salt wants to see Ferris and Cameron as a middle-aged, boring, adults. There’s just no way such a horrible idea could work. This isn’t Star Trek, where you can crank out sequel after sequel. This is Ferris Bueller, quintessential 80s child. Hands off.

That by the way, is what it sounds like his script is about. Fat, old Ferris. I guess the good thing here is that he can still be played by Matthew Broderick then, if we’re talking Ferris as an adult. The sequel script is supposedly stuffed with cameos from familiar characters and Rapier says, “I didn't want to leave anyone out, and I also realize that the actors who helped realize the first movie would feel left out if there wasn't a part for them in, perhaps, one of the longest awaited sequels in film history.”

Our friends over at Moviehole seem to have even more specific details on the script, including a plot outline. The say “The movie fast-forwards Ferris' life about 20 years. In the years since high school, Ferris has turned his carefree "Life Moves Pretty Fast" motto into a motivational self-help career -- think Tony Robbins, only with a beret and sweater vest. His best friend Cameron is still at his side, managing his massive business.” Did anyone else just flash to Tom Cruise in Magnolia? The script supposedly takes place on Ferris’s 40th birthday, when he decides to take the day off again, throwing poor Cameron into another tizzy.

Some of that sounds good, maybe the script is even good, but leave the 80s alone already. It’s just not worth the risk of tarnishing the original with some potentially shitty sequel. Actually, come on it’s almost certainly shitty. These things never work. They are never as good as the original and all you can really hope for is to avoid having your memories of the original completely ravaged by the new, inferior product which in the minds of everyone who is too young to remember will now be the Ferris Bueller movie of record. Sort of like the way kids prefer The Phantom Menace to the good Star Wars movies.

The comments section over at Tampabay.com, where the story seems to have originated, is already filling up with idiots promising to start wearing “Save Ferris” t-shirts as a way of supporting a non-movie they know nothing about. I say yes, buy those “Save Ferris” tees, but wear them to actually “Save Ferris” from the idiotic, soul destroying, childhood crushing sequel mania that has enveloped our entertainment and destroyed nearly everything in the 80s that was ever good. Save Ferris indeed. Save the fucking 80s. Tell Hollywood to leave Rick Rapier where he is… in the unemployment line. Stay away from John Hughes Rapier. Let my Cameron go.

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Stuart Says:
August 24th, 2007 at 02:25
Fuck you Rick Rapier, fuck you and your cynical attempt to cash in on the current trend for belated sequels to 80s movies.

Ferris Bueller was a product of it's time. A one off quirky comedy-drama that I don't believe for one second anyone could hope to build upon now in these cynical 21st century days.

How about trying to write a good story instead of trying to cram every single previous character in for the sake of them being there for a start? That's the first big huge stinking warning sign that the script will suck monkey nuts.

If this movie gets made, then you Rick Rapier are as good as a spiritual pedophile because you will rape my childhood and it's memories.

I hope you're happy living with that.

Mack Rawden Says:
August 24th, 2007 at 13:46
Ferris Bueller is one of those untouchable frozen in time pictures. Fifty years from now, when my kids want to know what they 80s were like, I will show them Ferris Bueller in all its glory.

I have no interest in watching someone try and drum up 20 year old magic.

Murphy Says:
August 24th, 2007 at 13:46
Yeah Rick, if you do this I'm gonna fucking smash you, dude.

Absy Says:
August 24th, 2007 at 13:47
One of the one of the longest awaited sequels in film history? Is this guy full of shit? I've never heard of anyone saying they were wanting a sequel to Ferris. And trying to cram every single character in there? It would be a train wreck. Would Ferris and Cameron now communicate via txt spk? Update the movie for the 21 century? Where's the petition? I want to make sure this never comes to pass.

Into Says:
August 24th, 2007 at 18:20
I'm speechless.

Every time I see Ferris Bueller on tv or pop the dvd in for a spin, one of the first thoughts that comes to mind is "Wow, Hollywood hasn't touched this one with a sequel yet...wow"

Today is a sad day.

Fuck you Rick Rapier.

Leave Ferris and the 80's alone.

And where do you get off saying it's one of the longest awaited sequels in history?

Rick, the Ferris fan Says:
August 27th, 2007 at 22:17
Thanks for all of your kind words! I feel all warm inside.

No, cynical is the way I would characterize how you've assumed I wrote this sequel to cash in. You couldn't be more wrong. Only a fool would try to write a sequel to a John Hughes movie if cashing in was his motivation.

I wrote it because I love the original, love the characters, love John Hughes, and miss his very uncynical kind of filmmaking. I wrote it because I am like millions of Ferris fans who've been hoping for a sequel since the original release, as Ferris fan sites and the reaction to this news (from many) attests. You lot may not want a sequel, and that's fine: don't see it if it gets made. Stay home. Watch the original on DVD. But why should the rest of us have to bend to your will? Again, I say, stay home. No one is taking your memories away from you! Is this Stuart guy you out of his mind?

I wrote it because I personally wanted to see those fictional people again in a story I thought others would enjoy as well, and the Ferris fans who've read my script love it, even those who thought the idea of a sequel was tantamount to a turd in a punch bowl.

And I included as many characters as I could because I know, from reading the Net, that most of the actors consider this one of their favorite movie-making experiences and -- should it ever get made -- I wanted none of those actors to be left out. Those actors are real people, and I wanted to take them into consideration.

There is nothing cynical about why I went to the trouble of writing this script. Rather, it is your assumptions and reactions that are quintessentially cynical, not my motivations.

P.S. Josh, I know that there are those who agree with you and are clearly not happy about this proposed sequel, but there are also many Ferris fans who are very excited about the possibility of the sequel, whether that's happy news for you or not, and their thoughts are also posted all over the Net. It is for these, among whom I count myself one, that I wrote it.

Eo Says:
August 27th, 2007 at 22:39
Rick, if that's really who you are... and if anything you say about your motives is true...

Then there's a name for what you're doing. It's called fan fiction. Leave it on a crummy Live Journal page like everyone else.

Sure, we can just not watch your stupid sequel. But there's more to it than that. Crummy sequels ruin the reputation of the movies that came before them. Just look at Star Wars. Star Wars reputation has diminished. It's just not fun to be a Star Wars fan anymore, not because the originals have changed, but because the new sequels have made Star Wars into a big, stupid joke.

So there's more to it than just not watching your crummy sequel. It's about tarnishing the name of Ferris Bueller with your junk.

If you're such a fan and it's not about money, then I expect you to give your script away for free to the first studio that comes knocking.

I do want to say however that if it really is you, awesome of you to actually respond, even if we do not agree with you.

JoshT Says:
August 28th, 2007 at 00:21
Rick, if it really is you, then I have to echo Eo's closing sentiment. It's very cool of you to take the time to respond, especially here where there's not exactly much enthusiasm for your project.

I'm still not on board with making a Ferris Bueller sequel, but you have my respect for having the courage to speak up for yourself.

Murphy Says:
August 28th, 2007 at 12:22
Assuming it is you, that's pretty big of you to respond to all this bashing, but I still don't condone a sequel, no matter what you do it's still going to be ridiculous, I'm sorry.

Stuart Says:
August 28th, 2007 at 13:37
---Quote by Rick, the Ferris Fan----
Only a fool would try to write a sequel to a John Hughes movie...
----------------------------------------

I respect you replying but that sentence ended itself right there and defeated your whole following arguement.

Also you go on to state that you aren't squeezing characters in for the sake of it but then say that you wrote the script that way because of the actor's love of the parts. So now you've dug yourself deeper by the second cardinal script sin - writing a script to cater to the actors instead of the story.

I'm sorry, no amount of mastabatory praise of the original and empty promises about how much your love of it is driving you can convince me this is a good idea.

I love Ferris Bueller as much as the next guy but I wouldn't write a sequel because I have the sense to realise I know it can't be done. God, even John Hughes himself hasn't tried and you'll take a hell of a lot more arguement to convince anyone you're a writer of his calibre.

Shawn Rainbolt Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 00:17
I love Ferris too. But I will be the die-hard type of fan that is on the other side. No don't remake Ferris like stupid Tim Burton and Batman. But lets continue the story and appeal to the new generations that don't have a clue what Ferris stood for. Hollywood now sees the money that can be made in late-sequels (taking over 20 years) to do Indy... etc. A solid fanbase equals "repeat sales" if that makes any sense.

If a sequel to Wargames comes out, oh wait it is, you mean no one will go see it? Who would even know what Wargames was? Those 25 and older would right? Same for Ferris. If Hughes finally does a 2nd... you bet I would go see it. Scene set in an techy office... rings a familiar bell.

So, yes - lets see a 2nd. Don't rewrite Ferris but write what we have always wanted to know: What ever happened to Ferris? Is he still up to his cutting-corners schemes? Is he working at the computer tech service I keep calling in for help? Did he ever work for Bill? Wait, he was the hands behind the Microsoft age wasn't he?

Hmm, sequel will answer it all... dude I'm there!

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