Uncle Buck

UNCLE BUCK [1989 / 2011] [Blu-ray] He’s Crude! He’s Crass! He’s Family! John Candy stars in this outrageous comedy written and directed by John Hughes. Uncle Buck is an idle, good-natured bachelor. However, during a family crisis; Uncle Buck is suddenly left in charge of his nephew and nieces. Unaccustomed to suburban life, fun loving Uncle Buck soon charms his younger relatives Miles Russell [Macaulay Culkin] and Maizy Russell [Gaby Hoffmann] with his hefty cooking and his new way of doing the laundry. But his carefree style doesn’t impress everyone, including Tia Russell [Jean Louisa Kelly], his rebellious teenage niece, and Chanice Kobolowski [Amy Madigan], his impatient girlfriend. Uncle Buck is the last person you’d think of to watch the children. But with a little luck and a lot of love, Uncle Buck manages to surprise everyone in this heart-warming family comedy film. Cast: John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Amy Madigan, Elaine Bromka, Garrett M. Brown, Laurie Metcalf, Jay Underwood, Brian Tarantina, Mike Starr, Suzanne Shepherd, Dennis Cockrum, Joel Robinson, Colin Baumgartner, Erik Whipple, Mark Rosenthal, Doug von Nessen, Wayne Kneeland, Gigi Casler, LaVerne Anderson, Gina Doctor, Rachel Thompson Perrine, Ron Payne, Jane Vickerilla, Kyle Lewis Eastman, Dana Taylor, Jennifer Kane, Christen Loftis, Genae Affrunti, Anna Chlumsky, Betsy Bottando, William Windom (voice), Julia Morgan (voice), Granville Ames (voice), Ramey Ellis (voice), Leigh French (voice), Patricia Arquette (voice), Laura Jacoby (voice), Devon Odessa (voice), Arnold F. Turner (voice), Garin Bouble (voice), Tim Hoskins (voice), Julie Payne (voice), Jack Blessing (voice), Todd Larson (voice), Kevin Bassett (uncredited), Michael Berkowitz (uncredited), Cathy Carlson (uncredited), James Anthony Caruso (uncredited), Anthony Joseph Fatigato (uncredited), Frost Keaton (uncredited), Robert Minkoff (uncredited), and Ryan Todd (uncredited) Director: John Hughes Producers: John Hughes, Ramey E. Ward, Tom Jacobson and William H. Brown Screenplay: John Hughes Composer: Ira Newborn Cinematography: Ralf D. Bode (Director of Photography) Video Resolution: 1080p [Color by DeLuxe] Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 [Anamorphic] Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo, French: 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo, Italian: 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo, German: 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo, Spanish: 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo, Portuguêse: 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo, Spanish [Latin America] 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo and Russian: 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo Subtitles: Japanese, English SDH, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguêse [Brazilian], Spanish [Latin America], Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguêse, Swedish, Thai, Turkish and Chinese (Traditional Mandarin) Running Time: 99 minutes Region: All Regions Number of discs: 1 Studio: Universal Pictures Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘UNCLE BUCK’ [1989] when it comes to relations, there is always being that one family member we’re reluctant to call on when we’re in a jam. The gossipy aunt, the grouchy uncle, the pushy cousin or the unpleasant niece who’ll run up your phone bill when he baby-sits the children. We all have them and they’re hard to avoid at get-togethers and when they do bother to turn up and if we are brave enough to invite them, that is . . . Uncle Buck [John Candy] is no different. Uncle Buck, he drinks, gambles, chain smokes, is unable to hold down a job or commit to his girlfriend and he’s a complete disaster to have around the house. That’s why Cindy Russell [Elaine Bromka] is hesitant to let her husband Bob Russell [Garrett M. Brown] gives his brother a call to come and look after their three kids. Cindy Russell’s dad’s has just had a heart attack and they have to go out of town to visit him. With no one else available on such short notice, the Russells have no other choice. Eldest daughter Tia Russell [Jean Louisa Kelly] is not too pleased about the situation. 15 years old and with a giant chip on her shoulder, she deeply resents her parents and any authority figures and therefore doesn’t take too kindly to Uncle Buck’s intrusions on her life. 8-year-old Miles Russell [Macaulay Culkin], and 6-year-old Maizy Russell [Gaby Hoffman] are easier to please and the oafish uncle hits it off right away with them with his brand of off-beat humour, unhealthy meals, relaxed rules on housekeeping and feeding the family dog. This is the story of how the world’s most unlikely person transforms a bickering family into one that comes to appreciate each other while also learning a thing or two about himself. John Hughes mixes teen angst with this family comedy, a formula that worked well in his best known filmss such as ‘Sixteen Candles’ [1984], ‘The Breakfast Club’ [1985] and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ [1986]. John Hughes’s characters are traditionally depicted as struggling with the transition from adolescences to adulthood and the same can be seen here, but while Tia Russell is the eponymous scowling petulant angst teenager, it’s actually Uncle Buck who struggles the most and the story largely remains his. While it’s comedy isn’t as slapstick as in ‘Home Alone’ [1990], there are some genuinely funny moments, like when Miles Russell interrogates Uncle Buck, resulting in the line “I’m a kid, that’s my job.” Macaulay Culkin and John Candy made a great comedy pair and it’s partly their facial expressions together with perfect timing that has always made ‘UNCLE BUCK’ one of my favourite of John Hughes’ films, especially in the scene where Uncle Buck surprises Miles Russell on his birthday. That’s the kind of surprise I have always been waiting for since 1989! Cue some solid head-to-head stuff, including Uncle Buck driving Tia Russell to school each morning, Uncle Buck going into Maizy Russell's school and tearing a strip off her way-too-serious Principal and Uncle Buck taking the kids Bowling, where one of his terrible friends tried and very, very unsuccessfully, to hit on Tia Russell. Then there's the visit to the party. Ultimately Uncle Buck's persistence pays off and the kids all love him by the time their parents get back. Tia now thinks he's wonderful, especially as he has managed to grant her retribution on the now ex-sleazebag boyfriend Bug, with a five-iron and some well-aimed golf balls, and even improve the relationship she has with her mother. Uncle Buck has to be just about the greatest film John Candy ever made. You know when some actors get roles that seem written just for them? This is such a role just made for John Candy. It is impossible to say anything bad about him or his performance. Whether he is sparring verbally with Macaulay Culkin or physically with Tia Russell's boyfriend Bug [Jay Underwood] all of his lines and all of his scenes are smooth as a very smooth thing that doesn't need ironing. The rest of the cast seem to revolve around John Candy and whilst they are very good in their own way, it must have been so easy for them to act alongside a comic genius at the height of his powers. Macaulay Culkin is so much more relaxed than he was in ‘Home Alone,’ it's almost possible to like him. Gaby Hoffmann is just small, cute and mercifully quiet. Jean Louisa Kelly shines in her first acting performance. UNCLE BUCK MUSIC TRACK LISTING: RHYTHM OF LIFE [Written and Performed by Hugh Harris] GOT MORE RHYMES [Performed by Young MC] TWEEDLEE DEE [Performed by La Vern Baker] THUNDERBIRD [Performed by Ray Anthony] MR. SANDMAN [Performed by The Chordettes] JUKE BOX BABY [Performed by Perry Como] LIPSTICK, POWDER AND PAINT [Performed by Joe Turner] WILD THING (WILD BEATS) [Performed by Tone Lōc] LAUGH, LAUGH [Performed by The Beau Brummels] BUST A MOVE [Performed by Young MC] SLIDE [Performed by Flesh for Lulu] SLOWDOWN [Performed by Flesh for Lulu] SMALL-TIME HUSTLER (uncredited) [Performed by The Dismasters] JAVA (uncredited) [Written by Allen Toussaint] Tweedlee Dee (uncredited) [Performed by John Candy] Blu-ray Video Quality – Universal Pictures brings you this Blu-ray disc with a 1080p encoded image and an equally nice looking 1.85:1 anamorphic aspect ratio. Visually, the image is good with only the occasional dust mark and speckle. There is a touch of grain visible, but the colour saturation is good and there are no signs of artefacts or other compression problems, other than some slight moiré effects on John Candy’s multi-coloured woollen jumpers! Blu-ray Audio Quality – Universal Pictures brings you this Blu-ray disc with just a standard 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo experience. The 2.0 DTS-HD Stereo audio is very clear and accurate, despite having no 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The music soundtrack comes over well, with the vocals easily distinguishable. There are a few ambient surround effects that are well executed and the loud backfiring from Uncle Buck’s car is really nicely done. Finally, ‘UNCLE BUCK’ [1989] is a really glorious fun film that has stood the test of time, except for some very dodgy looking clothes, but still slightly darker in approach than John Hughes’s normal family film. The younger niece and nephew are played well and are suitably cute, but the eldest niece Tia [Jean Kelly] is as rebellious and angry as any of today’s 15 year olds stroppy teenagers with a lot of angst. Some of the funniest moments come as Buck enters psychopath mode to scare away Tia’s creepy boyfriend, Bug, whose intentions are purely dishonourable. So all in all this is a really funny enjoyable film and recommended for all fans of John Candy and especially the films of John Hughes. Overall, I had forgotten how great this film is. It is very family friendly minus a few swear words. What is also outstanding with this film is all the brilliant music that is used in the film and really adds to the flavour of the time period in the 1980s. So to me adding this to Blu-ray Collection is an added bonus and it is one film that I would certainly want watch more often now I own it. Simply put it, this is classic comedy at its best. Highly Recommended! Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado Le Cinema Paradiso United Kingdom

If you like John Candy this is a Great Film. Good photography Direction and Great acting by the lead and all the support. Excellent Christmas Story.

You know what it's like, you're invited somewhere cool and you've got no one to look after the little ones? All your friends are going, and you don't have someone to look after junior, so what do you do? Call a baby sitter? No, usually it's your brother, or sister, and this is what Uncle Buck is all about. When a family member has a heart attack, Buck Russell (John Candy - Planes, Trains & Automobiles [1987 ], Brewster's Millions [1985 ]) has to look after the kids; Tia, a moody teen who really hates everyone except her lover Bug; little Maizy who's a dreamboat, and Miles (Macaulay Culkin - Home Alone [1990 ]) with his funny expressions, in the suburbs. Buck isn't really that treasured by the family, he's considered the slow one, he's been on-and-off with his girlfriend Chanice and hasn't had a proper job in ages. He lives on big wins on the horses and doesn't really care about much else - some would say he's a slob. We see Buck doing the usual crazy things which makes Tia cringe, insulting a teacher, and even cooking clothes, but at the bottom of his heart, he cares for the kids and doesn't want anything bad happening to them. This is good family comedy, with John Hughes' humour coming out in every scene. John Candy is perfect in this - he's jovial attitude and his humour shine here like a beacon on film comedy. Even the supporting cast really make this a treat - and the music is good too, with Tone Loc, Young MC and some classics from the 60s thrown in. This DVD is far from being packed with extras which is a pity, but the sound quality and picture are very good and make this a great DVD to revisit from time to time. It's a shame there's not more featuettes or even a gag reel, that would have been brilliant. Well worth buying, good fun for everyone all year round.

Buck Russell is a slob, but as a last resort during a family crisis, Bob & Cindy Russell agree to let the oafish Buck babysit their three children... Perhaps a tad too sugary with its moralistic social commentary? Director John Hughes has none the less crafted an entertaining, and at times, heart warming film. Watching Buck bulldoze his way through a series of standard chores is never less than entertaining, but it's the interplay with the three offspring of his brother that is the film's successful core. The two youngest children take to Buck straight away, to them he is like one big clown, but the relationship with the teenage daughter is fractious at best. Yet in typical John Hughes fashion, Uncle Buck becomes a rites-of-passage piece, where family values come shining to the fore from whence there was merely mirth. It's John Candy's show all the way, he puts enough skin on the bones of Buck to keep him interesting in spite of the almost crass make up of his persona, and as usual the comedy moments only serve as a reminder that we lost a comic talent when the big man passed away. Uncle Buck, a very safe and enjoyable viewing. 6.5/10

I have for some times wanted to see this old 1989 movie " Uncle Buck " with John Candy, which is many years since I saw this. So I was glad, when I found this dvd, that have also the Danish subsititles in it version. That give me a chance later to view the movie with eg my nephew. It came fast, it was wrapped up as new and there is as promise the subsititles as promise on the site. Thats also include Danish subsititles. I donot mind that cover design has the German title version of " Uncle Buck " It still a really good retro movie, that has it 1980 - 90s charm in it humor and origanel scrips. This movie may not be today be film with what being use in lanauge etc, because of todays rules of behavior / politics manners etc. But it a really nice, funny and sweet story of this guy Uncle Buck, that play by John Candy - that have to take over babysitting to help his brother and wife with their 3 children. He may be the last to ask for help, because he seen as a " free, alittle lazy and jump over where it easy though life " guy and not so responality. But the truth is - when you watch the movie - it show maybe you shouldnot judge people on it cover, because Uncle Buck - is when it comes to it very protected in his own way and style - when it comes to family / friends. He also very good in judge people on how they are, and thereby treat them after how they are & behavior. There are some memories scence from the movie, that stil makes me smile. It still a very good and great movie

The DVD arrived timely and as described without any damage.

Solo per veri nostalgici!

Geweldige feel-good film! De blu ray was perfect en had zelfs Nederlandse ondertitels. Tijdloze humor met de zeer gemiste maar nooit vergeten John Candy op zijn best.

John Candy was perfect in this movie.