Uncle Buck

This article is about the original film. For its 1990 spin-off TV series, seeUncle Buck (1990 TV series).For the 2016 series, seeUncle Buck (2016 TV series).

Uncle Buckis a 1989 Americancomedy-dramafilm written and directed byJohn Hughes.It starsJohn CandyandAmy MadiganwithJean Louisa Kelly,Laurie Metcalf,Jay Underwood,Macaulay Culkin,Gaby Hoffmann,Elaine Bromka,andGarrett M. Brownappearing in supporting roles. The film tells the story of a bachelor who babysits his brother's rebellious teenage daughter and her younger brother and sister while the parents are away. It was released in theatres byUniversal Pictureson August 16, 1989, and has grossed $79.2 million since its release.

Uncle Buck
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	John Hughes
Written by	John Hughes
Produced by	John Hughes Tom Jacobson
Starring	John Candy Amy Madigan
Cinematography	Ralf D. Bode
Edited by	Lou Lombardo Tony Lombardo Peck Prior
Music by	Ira Newborn
Production company	Hughes Entertainment
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	August 16, 1989(1989-08-16)
Running time	100 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$79.2 million

Plot

Bob and Cindy Russell have recently moved fromIndianapoliswith their three children, 15-year-old Tia, 8-year-old Miles, and 6-year-old Maizy, to theChicago suburbs.Resentful about the move, Tia's relationship with her mother is fraught. After learning that Cindy's father has had aheart attack,Bob and Cindy are reluctantly forced to leave the children in the care of Bob's brother, Buck, aheavy drinkerandsmokerwho makes a living by betting on riggedhorse races.His long-term girlfriend, Chanice, desires to get married and start a family, while Buck wants to retain his freedom and lack of responsibility; Chanice warns him that he will eventually end up alone.

Buck quickly befriends Miles and Maizy, whom he has never met, but Tia remains distant and rebellious. He settles into the Russell home and learns that he has been cropped out of his brother's wedding photos. Over the next several days, Buck takes the children bowling, ejects a drunken party clown from Miles' birthday party, defends Maizy from her school's strict assistant principal, and washes laundry in the kitchen sink because he cannot operate the washing machine. When Buck meets Tia's obnoxious boyfriend, Bug, he warns her that Bug is only interested in her for sex and repeatedly thwarts her plans to sneak out with him. In retaliation, Tia convinces Chanice that Buck is cheating on her with a neighbor, Marcy. When Chanice walks in on Marcy dancing with Buck, she ends their relationship. Buck laments that people used to envy his carefree life, but he realizes that lifestyle is no longer admirable.

After Tia sneaks out to a party, Buck decides to look for her instead of attending a horse race that would provide him with enough money for the entire year, and begs Chanice to look after Miles and Maizy. At the party, Buck forces open the door to a bedroom where he thinks Bug is taking advantage of Tia, but he finds Bug with another girl. He binds and gags Bug and locks him in his car's trunk, then finds a tearful Tia, who admits Buck was right about Bug. Opening the trunk, Buck forces Bug to apologize to Tia before letting him go. Bug threatens to sue Buck, but Buck hits him with golf balls, causing him to flee in terror.

Tia reconciles with Buck, then mends his relationship with Chanice by admitting her lie and telling Chanice that Buck would make a good husband and father. Buck also agrees to take a steady job at Chanice's auto shop. Bob and Cindy return from Indianapolis after Cindy's father recovers, and Tia surprises her mother with a hug; Cindy promises that their relationship will improve. As he prepares to leave, Buck invites Tia to meet up with him in the city before exchanging a loving goodbye.

Cast

• John Candyas Buck Russell, a bachelor who babysits his older brother's children
• Jean Louisa Kellyas Tia Russell, the oldest daughter of Bob and Cindy
• Gaby Hoffmannas Maizy Russell, the youngest daughter of Bob and Cindy
• Macaulay Culkinas Miles Russell, the only son of Bob and Cindy
• Amy Madiganas Chanice Kobolowski, Buck's girlfriend and proprietor of a tire shop
• Elaine Bromkaas Cindy Russell, the wife of Bob
• Garrett M. Brownas Bob Russell, the older brother of Buck and husband of Cindy
• Laurie Metcalfas Marcy Dahlgren-Frost
• Jay Underwoodas Bug, Tia's boyfriend
• Brian Tarantinaas E. Roger Coswell, a friend of Buck
• Mike Starras Pooter-the-Clown, a birthday clown
• Suzanne Shepherdas Mrs. Hogarth, the assistant principal of Maizy's school
• William Windomas Mr. Hatfield, the voice of the unseen neighbor of the Russells who Buck accidentally awakens upon his arrival
• Dennis Cockrum as Pal
• Anna Chlumskyas one of Maizy's unnamed classmates

Notable additional voices were provided byPatricia Arquette,Jack Blessing,Leigh French,andJulie Payne.

Production

The film was the first one directed, written, and produced byJohn Hughesunder a multi-picture agreement deal withUniversal.Filming began on January 4, 1989, in Chicago.The company decided to keep the production facilities and locations as close as possible. The vacantNew Trier High SchoolinNorthfield,Illinois,was chosen for the production facility. Three of its gyms were converted into sound stages on which several sets were constructed including the two-levelled interior of the Russell House, Buck's bedroom, and smaller sets.The school was also equipped to suit the needs of the cast and crew behind-the-scenes, with classrooms for the young actors, offices, dressing rooms, a wardrobe department, editing facilities, a special effects shop, equipment storage areas, and a projection booth.

Production designerJohn Corsobegan designing the sets in October 1988 and within seven weeks his construction crew of twelve carpenters and five painters began work on the two levels of the Russell house. The elementary school corridor, the boys' restroom, the principal's office, and a classroom were filmed at Wilmette's Romona Elementary School. A colonial-style house inEvanstonwas chosen for the exterior of the Russell house. The exteriors and practical locations were shot in Chicago,Cicero,Skokie,Northbrook,Wilmette,Winnetka,Glencoe,andRiverwoods.

Reception

Box office

The film earned $8.8 million on its opening weekend in 1,804 theatres and was placed No. 1 at the box office.The film stayed in first place for three more weeks before being bumped down to second bySea of Love.Its US earnings were 18th in 1989, and the film has earned nearly $80 million worldwide since its release.

Critical reception

On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,62% of 26 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "Uncle Buckhas its ups and downs, but there's undeniable comedic magic that comes from uniting John Hughes, John Candy, and a house full of precocious kids. "Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 51 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

Roger Ebertof theChicago Sun-Timesgave the film a score of one and a half out of four, writing thatUncle Buckwas unusually bitter and angry for a Hughes movie: "...Hughes is usually the master of the right note, the right line of dialogue, and this time there's an uncomfortable undercurrent in the material".

Television series and remake

Main articles:Uncle Buck (1990 TV series)andUncle Buck (2016 TV series)

A television series was broadcast onCBSin 1990. It starredKevin Meaneyas Buck, a slob who drinks and smokes. When Bob and Cindy die in a car accident, he is named the guardian of Tia, Miles, and Maizy. The show was not received well by TV critics. After it was moved to Friday, in an attempt by CBS to establish a comedy night there, its ratings quickly plummeted and it was cancelled.

In June 2016,ABCpremiered a second television adaptation featuring an African-American cast withMike Eppsin the title role,James Lesureas his brother, andNia Longas Buck's sister-in-law. It suffered a similar fate as the previous TV adaptation, as it was poorly received by critics and then cancelled after eight episodes.In 1991, the film was remade inMalayalamlanguage and released asUncle Bun.

External links

• Uncle BuckatIMDb
• Uncle Buckat theTCM Movie Database
• Uncle BuckatRotten Tomatoes
• Uncle BuckatBox Office Mojo