At the end of the eighties, director John Hughes returned to his beloved suburban Chicago to film his latest comedy, Uncle Buck (1989). Starring John Candy, the film chronicles the reentry of a pariah into his brother's family. When an unexpected family emergency calls the parents out of town, they reluctantly call Uncle Buck to take care of the children in their absence. Their anxiety is understandable: unemployed Buck chomps on cigars, has a car that backfires like a cannon, and gleefully threatens his niece's ratty boyfriend with a hatchet. As the tagline advertised, "He's crude. He's crass. He's family." Candy was a natural choice for Hughes in the starring role - he co-starred with Steve Martin in the immensely successful Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987), a film Hughes both wrote and directed. Macaulay Culkin, a little-known child actor, was cast as Buck's inquisitive nephew. Hughes was so impressed by the boy's comedic talent that he recommended him for the lead in one of his next scripts, to be directed by Christopher Columbus. The film was Home Alone (1990), which launched Culkin to kiddie super-stardom.

Amy Madigan was cast as Candy's long-suffering girlfriend. Madigan was having a banner year, coming off the success of Field of Dreams (1989), in which she played Kevin Costner's spirited wife. Her daughter in that film was Gaby Hoffmann, here cast as the youngest niece in Uncle Buck. Madigan, nominated in 1986 for a supporting Oscar® for Twice in a Lifetime (1985), is known for her staunch Hollywood politics, along with husband Ed Harris. Their silent protestation of Elia Kazan's 2000 honorary Oscar® remains one of the controversial moments in Academy history. Gaby Hoffmann, now in her early twenties, had a memorable supporting role in You Can Count on Me (2000), among other indie productions. Jean Louisa Kelly, in her debut role, nailed the part of sulky, rebellious teen - the child who gives Buck the most grief. Kelly currently stars in the television sitcom Yes, Dear (2000-present), and also had a featured role in Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), starring Richard Dreyfuss.

Playing the nosy and oversexed neighbor is Laurie Metcalf, best known as Roseanne's beleaguered sister during the long-running sitcom (1988-1997). Metcalf, a founding member of the famed Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago--along with John Malkovich and Gary Sinise--gained critical notice in Oliver Stone's JFK (1991). There are a couple of surprising bit parts in Uncle Buck attentive viewers might pick up on; the part of a school child is played by Anna Chlumsky. Two years later, she would go on to star in My Girl (1991), with Macaulay Culkin. And an "additional voice" is supplied by Patricia Arquette, who starred in David Lynch's Lost Highway (1997), but is perhaps better known as the sister of Courtney and David, not to mention being an ex-Mrs. Nicolas Cage.

Uncle Buck was enough of a hit to spawn a television series, although the original creator didn't even know about it: in an interview, Hughes explains: "Uncle Buck [the television series] I knew nothing about until the producers asked me if they could use some of the exterior footage. That's when I got to put my foot down - `No [expletive] way! I'm a DGA member! Go get your own!" Not one to mince words, Hughes got karmic revenge: the series was a flop. The film, however, continues to build a devoted following, made even more bittersweet by Candy's passing in 1994.

Producer: Bill Brown, John Hughes, Tom Jacobson
Director: John Hughes
Screenplay: John Hughes
Cinematography: Ralf Bode
Film Editing: Lou Lombardo, Tony Lombardo, Peck Prior
Art Direction: John W. Corso, Doug Kraner
Music: Ira Newborn
Cast: John Candy (Uncle Buck Russell), Amy Madigan (Chanice Kobolowski), Jean Louisa Kelly (Tia Russell), Gaby Hoffmann (Maizy Russell), Macaulay Culkin (Miles Russell), Elaine Bromka (Cindy Russell).
C-100m. Letterboxed.

by Eleanor Quin