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Only the Good Die Young: Remembering John Candy in Uncle Buck
The jolly fat man that just couldn’t stick around long enough; the 1989 John Hughes comedy is classic John Candy and a great flick for a family movie night. Candy, like Chris Farley, is at his best while portraying the laughable imbecile that, despite his shortcoming, you just can’t help but love. John Candy reminds us what it is to be an American: jolly, carefree, loving, and unfortunately for a large population, overweight.
One of the most distinctive characteristics of Uncle Buck is the beaten up Mercury Grand Marquis that more closely resembles a rocket lifting off than a car every time it starts. The most picturesque scene with Uncle Buck’s beater of transportation takes place when he is picking up his niece, played by Jean Louisa Kelly. She is talking to her boyfriend, whom Buck is not a fan of, and insists on riding home with him but Buck had a different idea. He makes her get into his Marquis and guns the engine, engulfing the boyfriend with a cloud of black filthy auto waste.
It’s a goofy family comedy, but also extraordinarily sly, unafraid to permit generous screen time to bizarre jokes and situations of slack guardian supervision. John Hughes has a certain love for big, boisterous, Chicago families and, before there was Home Alone, there was Uncle Buck. Saddled with three foul mouthed and morally non-absorbent kids, Buck has to fend off the advances of a neighbor, keep his niece’s virginity and not let down the people that truly love him the most.
It’s an amazing comedy that’s impossible to hate. John Candy embodies the most lovable characters with all sorts of crazy elements. He makes what might have been a mediocre film and takes it to the next level. The plot is actually one of the better conceived John Hughes ideas. And let’s not forget that.
“Hey, Bobby we should really get together sometime. I haven’t been over at the new house since you moved. By the way, I want to apologize for last year at your old house… about those bushes. I had no idea they all would catch on fire like that. You were right. I should never have put the barbeque grill that close.” This memorable quote depicts a hilarious scene where Buck is talking with his brother Bobby on the phone and is just the type of comedic genius you’ll get with this family flick.
John Candy may not still be with us, but his comedy will always live on in our hearts as we continue to laugh time and time again at his timeless classics. It sure is a shame that all of the funniest fat men of our era have died. But this just means that more comedic gold is sure to come, not to replace but to go down in history alongside the other comedic genius’.
For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used family DVDs from Uncle Buck to Groundhog Day, visit www.used-familyentertainment.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.
About the Author
Brad Parmerter has almost 20 years experience in the music and entertainment industry as a writer, programmer, and merchandiser. He has professionally interviewed and photographed such artists as: Rush, Metallica, Celine Dion, Live, Phil Collins, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Live, Van Halen, Queensryche, Anna Nalick, Styx, Def Leppard, and many more.
Please visit SecondSpin.com for all of your entertainment needs.
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