MovieChat Forums > Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Discussion > Sloane's problem

Sloane's problem

posted 7 years ago by [deleted]
15 replies | jump to latest

I mentioned before that this movie might be all about 'problematic people' - half of them are mentally ill or psychologically traumatized or emotionally disturbed, or whatnot. And Ferris is a sociopath.

I forgot Sloane's problem, because of Sloane's problem.

You see, Sloane's problem is that she has no personality.

You could've replaced the actor with Claudia Wells, and nothing would've been lost. Both give similar performances (Claudia Wells as Jennifer in Back to the Future - both are good at staring into the distance and looking at the hero of the story).

But in actual fact, the actor could've been replaced with any 'eye candy' - let's face it, that's her only reason and role in this movie. It would've been much better without her - she makes Cameron seem like a third feel, whereas the whole 'day off' is actually almost done because of Cameron.

My point is, if you have an eyecandy girlfriend that you plan to spend your 'day off' with, why take 'excess baggage', like Cameron, to spoil the 'GF fun'?

And if you plan to spend it with Cameron, why bring your eyecandy girlfriend to make Cameron feel like a third wheel? This movie could've worked better as a 'buddy movie', but I guess there's some kind of dynamic in this weird social triangle. Also, she can be useful sometimes (speaking to the Maitre D' on the phone, for example, and flirting with Ferris's father, making him forget that he might've seen someone resembling his son).

If you look at things from her perspective, would she really enjoy having a negative whiner like Cameron in their group, or would she rather be spend the day being intimate with her cool and high-status sociopath boyfriend? I mean, come on - there's no way she cares about museums or baseball (though I can see her enjoying the fancy restaurant), or all the 'good, wholesome fun' they're forced to do because of Cameron.

A young teenage girl like that would most likely rather just party with her boyfriend than waste her rare day off being an unpaid therapist to a depressing hypochondriac.

Too bad Ferris couldn't help her in the end, because building a whole personality from scratch would be too much for even Ferris.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (72208) 7 years ago

Sorry you didnt like it

[–] FredBurroughs (19791) 7 years ago

I thought this was going to be an extended rant about the fact she wore her panties in the pool scene.

[–] [deleted] 7 years ago

MMMMMMM...Sloanes panties!!!

[–] McQualude (4231) 7 years ago

Nah, you really don't get this movie. Might be an 80's thing, some things don't translate to other generations.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

I didn't like in back in the 80s.

And the point about Sloane having no real purpose is valid. I think she's just there to make Ferris look straight.

[–] McQualude (4231) 6 years ago

Well it's not about Sloane. But the OP still doesn't get it. It was a film made for a generation and doesn't translate well, new generations are way too uptight.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

My other point was that the widespread dislike of this film isn't necessarily a generational issue.

When the film was new, plenty of people disliked it and thought Ferris was a smug bastard. Even young people.

[–] McQualude (4231) 6 years ago

There is no widespread dislike. When the film was new, no doubt there were people who disliked it because there are people who dislike free hot chocolate on a cold winter's day but the film was a box office success and landed with the intended audience. Don't get me wrong, it's perfectly fine to not like it, it's just a movie. There are plenty of popular movies I don't like, and some unpopular movies I do like, and I'm okay with it. Ferris was smug, self confident, and a reckless asshole but we liked him because he got away with it. Kids today tend toward conservatism and are self effacing, there is no way they can relate to someone like Ferris Bueller.

[–] artguylarry (498) 6 years ago

Wow. Way to over analyze 103 minutes of fun. You're either an old crab (a teen before the '80s) with a stick up your butt, or you're young twerp with a stick up your butt, who knows everything.

It's just fun. All of the characters/actors had great personality. If you're a teen of the '80s like me, it never leaves you. You grow up, but it never leaves you. And that's why I think I grew up in the best time. Movies like this one, the music, the fashions, all of it. Some of it may be hideous, but when the best of your memories is littered with it, it becomes a part of you that keeps you young every time you remember.

How would you like to crap all over that?

[–] ADBruno1985 (3309) 5 years ago

I think her problem was that she seemed more compatible with Cameron ultimately

[–] Sandman81 (1502) 5 years ago

While I agree Ferris might be a sociopath, I can kind of understand why he wanted both of them along on this day. He knew this was probably going to be one of his last chances to have a great day with either of them, and he had no idea what the future of either of these relationships would hold, or if there would even be one. With Cameron, once they graduate they both work all summer, then off to college. And Sloan would still be in high school, who knows if Ferris being away would at college would end their relationship. So he figured bring both of them along, have this great day, and whatever happens in the future, at least we had this one day.

And Sloan seemed like she was enjoying everything they were doing. She was keeping score at the baseball game, and goofing around at the museum.

[–] ebhaynz (3540) 5 years ago

Great points Sandman!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I always thought she had a "too cool for school" attitude which is why she comes across as bored and without personality. The problem is why is she with Ferris anyway? He might be popular but he is a geek and a loser. So perhaps that is her real problem?

[–] ADBruno1985 (3309) 4 years ago

For me, I felt more like what happens after is that Sloane actually ends up with Cameron. Through the movie, she seems to show Cameron more interest and sympathy than Ferris does. They have more actual chemistry in my opinion. They seem a bit more on par with each other in terms of intelligence, maturity, social standing. I feel like she knows Ferris is a high school boyfriend.