This is the movie in which director John Hughes made a decision to leave the world of adolescence behind after films such as The Breakfast Club(1985) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off(1986) and regress into childhood.
Buck Russell (John Candy) is a fun-loving bachelor without a care in the world. He’s also the world’s greatest slob. So when he has to look after his sharp young nephew and nieces while their parents are away, anything can happen.
Candy makes the most of his starring role as the lovable slob who is pressed into looking after his brother’s children, and Hughes stages some neat comic set pieces.
Despite the fact that this was also the film that unleashed Macaulay Culkin there is still much to enjoy. Only the sentimental moralising strikes a false note.
An inferior TV version of Uncle Buck was produced in 1990 with Kevin Meaney stepping in for the late John Candy. The show employed a slightly darker premise than the film – instead of going out of town to help care for a sick relative like in the movie, Buck is made permanent guardian when the children’s parents die in a car accident.
The show received less-than-favourable reviews and, combined with low ratings, was cancelled after the first season.
Buck Russell
John Candy Miles Russell
Macaulay Culkin Tia Russell
Jean Louisa Kelly Maizy Russell
Gaby Hoffmann Chanice Kobolowski
Amy Madigan Cindy Russell
Elaine Bromka Bob Russell
Garrett M Brown Marcie Dahlgren-Frost
Laurie Metcalf Bug
Jay Underwood E Roger Coswell
Brian Tarantina Pooter the Clown
Mike Starr Mrs Hogarth
Suzanne Shepherd
Director
John Hughes
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