Ferris Bueller's Day Off

John "I direct adolescents" Hughes does his day-in-the-life act here, about a well-to-do Chicago kid who is brighter than just about anybody else in the picture. He has a better time outwitting adults than we do watching the picture. It is not horrible, but never hits its stride, ranging from obvious juvenile humor to a peculiar blend of attempted drama and pop psychology. You figure it out. Maybe Hughes is emerging from his germinal stage and is thinking about doing pictures about adults. The three main performers are appealing enough, and the voiceover narration works better than it has any right to. Matthew Broderick remains an engaging screen presence. But the picture ultimately bogs down in its own ill-defined intentions. Charlie Sheen has a brief cameo, and comes across as the more interesting character; you keep wanting to know HIS story. At the end of this picture, you say, "why did they make this picture?"