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UNCLE BUCK
John Hughes and John Candy once again struck gold as a movie making team with a 1989 comedy called Uncle Buck, that makes a pretty standard story special due to some deft screenwriting and Candy's ability to bring more to a role than what's on the paper.
Candy plays Buck Russell, a confirmed bachelor, an unemployed chronic gambler who steps up when he gets a call from his brother asking if he can look after hie nieces and nephew. Buck is not his sister-in-law's first choice for this job made clear by the fact that the two younger children didn't even know they had an Uncle. The story eventually whittles down to a battle of wills between Buck and his mean-spirited older niece (Jean Louisa Kelly).
What I like that John Hughes did here is establish the kind of person the central character is through other characters and events in the story. The kids' mother only agreeing to call Buck when ALL other options have been exhausted, the look of terror on her face as she is giving Buck final instructions before they leave town, and on the other side of Buck, we see his sometimes girlfriend (Amy Madigan) who he is supposed to start working for, ask him about 47 times in their first scene nif he is going to show up for work for his first day. The wonderful twist here is the way Buck steps up and takes this responsibility so seriously but never stops being Buck.
Hughes creates a perfect marriage of actor and character with Candy and Buck, one of Candy's more likable characters, who actually has a little more substance than you might think. Kelly is a little too straight-faced as the niece, but Macauley Culkin is a scene-stealer in a performance that led to his star-making role in Home Alone. Madigan is wasted bu Laurie Metcalf has some funny moments as an amorous neighbor with the hots for Buck. Once again, the two Johns, Hughes and Candy, make an unbeatable combination.
John Hughes and John Candy once again struck gold as a movie making team with a 1989 comedy called Uncle Buck, that makes a pretty standard story special due to some deft screenwriting and Candy's ability to bring more to a role than what's on the paper.
Candy plays Buck Russell, a confirmed bachelor, an unemployed chronic gambler who steps up when he gets a call from his brother asking if he can look after hie nieces and nephew. Buck is not his sister-in-law's first choice for this job made clear by the fact that the two younger children didn't even know they had an Uncle. The story eventually whittles down to a battle of wills between Buck and his mean-spirited older niece (Jean Louisa Kelly).
What I like that John Hughes did here is establish the kind of person the central character is through other characters and events in the story. The kids' mother only agreeing to call Buck when ALL other options have been exhausted, the look of terror on her face as she is giving Buck final instructions before they leave town, and on the other side of Buck, we see his sometimes girlfriend (Amy Madigan) who he is supposed to start working for, ask him about 47 times in their first scene nif he is going to show up for work for his first day. The wonderful twist here is the way Buck steps up and takes this responsibility so seriously but never stops being Buck.
Hughes creates a perfect marriage of actor and character with Candy and Buck, one of Candy's more likable characters, who actually has a little more substance than you might think. Kelly is a little too straight-faced as the niece, but Macauley Culkin is a scene-stealer in a performance that led to his star-making role in Home Alone. Madigan is wasted bu Laurie Metcalf has some funny moments as an amorous neighbor with the hots for Buck. Once again, the two Johns, Hughes and Candy, make an unbeatable combination.