John Hughes reteamed with actor John Candy for Uncle Buck, which turned out to be the penultimate film of Hughes’s career as a director. Kino Lorber Studio Classics released Uncle Buck on 4K Ultra HD earlier this year utilizing a brand new HDR/Dolby Vision from a 4K scan of the original 35mm negative.

Bob and Cindy Russell (Garrett M. Brown, Elaine Bromka) have relocated from Indianapolis to the Chicago suburbs with their three children: 15-year-old Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly), 8-year-old Miles (Macaulay Culkin), and 6-year-old Maizy (Gaby Hoffmann). Tia resents the move, straining her relationship with her mother. When Cindy’s father suffers a heart attack, the couple leaves the kids with Bob’s brother, Buck (John Candy), a carefree gambler and heavy drinker. Buck’s long-term girlfriend Chanice Kobolowski (Amy Madigan) wants marriage and family, but Buck resists responsibility, setting up a blend of comedy, chaos, and heartfelt lessons.

Buck quickly bonds with Miles and Maizy, while Tia remains rebellious. He navigates the household with humor and unconventional methods—bowling trips, confronting a drunken party clown (Mike Starr), defending Maizy at school in a meeting with Mrs. Hogarth (Suzanne Shepherd), and even washing laundry in the kitchen sink. He also warns Tia about her boyfriend Bug (Jay Underwood), thwarting her attempts to sneak out. Tia retaliates by convincing Chanice that Buck is cheating on her with Marcy (Laurie Metcalf, leading to a breakup and forcing Buck to reflect on the limits of his carefree lifestyle.

When Tia sneaks out to a party, Buck abandons a horse race to look for her. He finds Bug in a room with another reluctant girl and restrains him, validating his earlier warnings. Tia, tearful and grateful, acknowledges Buck was right, while the experience helps mend the misunderstandings with Chanice. Buck agrees to a steady job and a more responsible life, showing growth without losing his essential charm.

By the time Bob and Cindy return from Indianapolis, family relationships have been renewed. Tia reconciles with her mother, signaling a fresh start, while Buck exchanges a heartfelt farewell with Tia, leaving her—and the audience—with the promise that even the most unlikely guardians can transform lives through humor, courage, and love.

Can we talk about just how great Candy and Hughes were together? Mind you, Uncle Buck was only the second time Hughes directed Candy, following his breakout role in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. But really, look at this monologue Buck delivers to Mrs. Hogarth—it’s a classic, especially after the assistant principal complains about Maizy’s “career” as a student:

“I don’t think I want to know a six-year-old who isn’t a dreamer, or a sillyheart. And I sure don’t want to know one who takes their student career seriously. I don’t have a college degree. I don’t even have a job. But I know a good kid when I see one. Because they’re ALL good kids, until dried-out, brain-dead skags like you drag them down and convince them they’re no good. You so much as scowl at my niece, or any other kid in this school, and I hear about it, and I’m coming looking for you!”

And then there’s the conversation between Miles and Uncle Buck, which was also used during Macaulay Culkin’s audition:

Miles: Where do you live?
Buck: In the city.
Miles: Do you have a house?
Buck: Apartment.
Miles: Own or rent?
Buck: Rent.
Miles: What do you do for a living?
Buck: Lots of things.
Miles: Where’s your office?
Buck: I don’t have one.
Miles: How come?
Buck: I don’t need one.
Miles: Where’s your wife?
Buck: Don’t have one.
Miles: How come?
Buck: It’s a long story.
Miles: Do you have kids?
Buck: No, I don’t.
Miles: How come?
Buck: It’s an even longer story.
Miles: Are you my dad’s brother?
Buck: What’s your record for consecutive questions asked?
Miles: 38.

Uncle Buck also marked the first motion picture role for Jean Louisa Kelly. In an interview conducted for the 4K UHD release, Kelly talks about her background and casting. She had recently moved cities before receiving the script, which made her performance in Uncle Buck feel authentic—teenagers are already navigating huge life changes, and moving schools only adds to the disruption when it comes to friend groups, etc. Her real-life experience added another level of authenticity to her portrayal of Tia.

Not surprisingly, Hughes filmed much of Uncle Buck in the Chicago area. New Trier High School in Northfield, Illinois, served as the production home since it was vacant at the time. They cleverly transformed the gymnasiums into sound stages for the Russell house interiors, Buck’s bedroom and other smaller sets, all without us ever noticing. The magic of cinema!

Ira Newborn, credited as the film’s composer, had previously scored five Hughes films. His main contribution to Uncle Buck is the track “Coming Home.” While not quite as iconic as his work on The Naked Gun, it’s still a catchy tune. But still, you’d think someone credited as the primary composer would have more material on the soundtrack!

It’s hard to believe Candy wasn’t even 40 years old when Uncle Buck was released. He passed away less than five years later. It’s surreal and gives you chills just thinking about it. Candy was really just beginning to come into his prime as an actor when the film was released, and just like that, it all ended in an instant. I was way too young to really appreciate Uncle Buck the first time I saw it, but it works differently after watching the bulk of John Hughes’s filmography, not to mention his work with Candy.

Bonus Features

DISC 1 (4KUHD):

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joe Ramoni

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):

• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Joe Ramoni
• Sixteen Going on Seventeen: NEW Interview with Actress Jean Louisa Kelly
• Macaulay Culkin Audition
• Theatrical Trailer

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: John Hughes
CAST: John Candy, Jean Louisa Kelly, Laurie Metcalf, Jay Underwood, Macaulay Culkin, Gaby Hoffmann, Elaine Bromka, Garrett M. Brown, and Amy Madigan, Suzanne Shepherd, Mike Starr, Brian Tarantina

Universal Pictures released Uncle Buck in theaters on August 16, 1989. Grade: 3.5/5

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