Common Sense Media Review
By Charles Cassady Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
'80s comedy about a bachelor babysitter has profanity, sex.
Parents Need to Know
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Uncle Buck
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 19 parent reviews
Parents say the film blends humor with parenting lessons but contains sensitive content that raises concerns, particularly regarding language, implied sexual situations, and scenes that may be inappropriate for younger viewers. While many fans appreciate its comedic value and heartfelt messages about family connections, others caution against its suitability for children due to the portrayal of teen relationships and strong language.
- comedic value
- sensitive content
- parental concerns
- family lessons
- age appropriateness
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 39 kid reviews
What's the Story?
Buck Russell (John Candy), 40, is a sports-betting, unemployed bachelor living in a messy apartment, stringing along his longtime girlfriend, Chanice (Amy Madigan), who wants to settle down with him. The black sheep of the family, Buck is shocked when his brother calls. It's an emergency -- his sister-in-law's father has suffered a heart attack, and they need Buck stay at their posh suburban home to watch the kids while they go out of town. Buck walks into an uncomfortable household situation. Little Mazy (Gaby Hoffman) and Miles (Macaulay Culkin) get along great with the big, goofy teddy-bear uncle. But 15-year-old niece Tia (Jean Kelly) positively loathes Buck. Her resentment and teen rebellion against her mother take the form of haughty sarcasm, progressive apparel, and hanging with a vaguely "goth" party crowd. Eventually Tia's feud with Buck crosses the line and causes genuine pain. But you get the feeling the girl is just imitating, in caricature, typically snotty grown-ups on her side of the tracks.
Is It Any Good?
In Uncle Buck, John Hughes has created a likable hero who exhibits both the virtues and the drawbacks of acting like a big kid. The benefits outweigh the negatives, though -- or at least that's the case Hughes tries to make. As he did in Pretty in Pink and The Breakfast Club, Hughes makes it seem like class structure in America is just as divisive as the dukedoms and commoners in Jane Austen's backyard.
And, when Buck agrees to watch the kids, it not only helps him avoid a job Chanice lined up for him, but it's also supposed to prove to her that he can be a responsible parent-like figure in spite of himself. There's enough slapstick and falling-down stuff with Candy acting goofy to please viewers not looking for heavy stuff, and the acting is all on target.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the conflicts among the various characters. Do you think Buck could have handled bad-girl Tia in a more productive way? Do you believe the way the story comes out? Has Buck himself grown up a little by the end? What do you think will happen between him and Chanice?
In the 1980s, John Hughes, the director of Uncle Buck, made a name for himself by making movies that tried to move beyond the typical trite stereotyping of teenagers and to convey the realities of broken homes, drug and alcohol use, teen sex, cliques, and not fitting in as well as coming to grips with first loves, more responsibilities, and uncertain futures. Where and how do these portrayals of teens seem (and look) dated, and what are some of the ways in which the issues addressed are still discussed decades after these movies were released?
If you could remake this movie, how would you do it? Who would star?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 16, 1989
- On DVD or streaming : August 23, 2005
- Cast : Jean Louisa Kelly , John Candy , Macaulay Culkin
- Director : John Hughes
- Studio : Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Book Characters
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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