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Uncle Buck

Play trailer Poster for Uncle Buck PG 1989 1h 40m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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61% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 100,000+ Ratings
When Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and her husband, Bob (Garrett M. Brown), have to leave town for a family emergency, there is only one person available to babysit for their three kids: Bob's lazy, carefree brother, Buck (John Candy). While he immediately gets along with the two younger children (Gaby Hoffman, Macaulay Culkin), Buck must change his bachelor lifestyle if he wants to be a responsible caregiver for the angst-filled teenager, Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly).
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Uncle Buck

Uncle Buck

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Critics Consensus

Uncle Buck has 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.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
1.5/4
Uncle Buck attempts to tell a heart-warming story through a series of uncomfortable and unpleasant scenes; it's a tug-of-war between its ambitions and its methods. Go to Full Review
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Oct 9
3.5/5
Candy was really just beginning to come into his prime as an actor when the film was released... Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Feb 22
2.5/4
The kids are cute and Candy is game, and it’s largely their personalities that allow the film to survive its series of underwhelming set-pieces. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 07/11/2022
Uncle Buck accumulates too much bile and the formula falls apart. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Ryan Murphy Miami Herald 08/17/2021
2.5/4
Wickedly underplayed, the role of Uncle Buck allows the adroit comic actor to blend physical comedy with small moments of tender reflection. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com 03/16/2021
3/5
...Hughes and Candy may take a sloppy, anything-goes approach here, but it works... Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Nicholas Aug 28 Hilarious and funny! See more Cristina 08/03/2022 Uncle Buck has always been one of my favorite 80s movies!! It was really cool being able to see it on the big screen with my family See more Zach B @ZachBasham67 5d So underrated! It deserves more recognition See more Matthew D @OceanSage Dec 1 A riveting comedy about understanding and appreciating family. John Candy steals the show as the lovable oaf Uncle Buck in the 1989 film of the same name. John Hughes does not reinvent the wheel as a director, but his oddly realistic suburban community overview is charming unto itself. His angles and sequences are clever and fun, but never interesting by themselves. Hughes' genius is thanks to his writing. Hughes brings witty and hilarious script writing with a biting sense of sarcasm to the fold. His films do not always hold up thanks to his creepier sexual material through into the mix, but Uncle Buck is still hilarious. Again, Candy is the star with his massive stature and the physical comedy that comes with him, but his likable personality and genuine attitude feel quite natural. Candy doesn't overplay his ridiculous character and wins you over because of it. Macaulay Culkin is very charming and fun as Miles in this early role of his, while Gaby Hoffman is equally adorable and sweet as Maizy. The great foil in the teenage daughter for Uncle Buck is portrayed beautifully by the spunky and smarmy Jean Kelly. She is the other standout star of Uncle Buck alongside Candy. The music feels right out of Risky Business from the previous year, while not standing out as great for a 1980's score. Other than the wonderful scene wherein the daughter and mother make up and come to a new understanding with sweet synths playing in the background. Overall, Uncle Buck is short and quick, while it does not try much new, it plays up slapstick and mature humor in this family oriented comedy that gets funnier the older you get. See more Danny R Nov 29 A beloved comedy classic by John Hughes, with the late great John Candy delivering a sensational comic performance that is also so endearing. Truly an entertaining and hilarious film. See more Madam D Nov 14 I love John Candy & this is one of his best. Perhaps because he works with kids, but there are so many great scenes I have to see it every so many years. Miss having him around. See more Read all reviews
Uncle Buck

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Uncle Buck

Uncle Buck: Official Clip - So Much For Promises Uncle Buck: Official Clip - So Much For Promises 2:26 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Moley Russel's Wart Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Moley Russel's Wart 2:55 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Would Ya Like to See My Hatchet? Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Would Ya Like to See My Hatchet? 2:51 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Miles Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Happy Birthday, Miles 2:35 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - His Name is Bug Uncle Buck: Official Clip - His Name is Bug 1:55 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Battle of Wills Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Battle of Wills 1:01 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Squashing a Bug Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Squashing a Bug 1:08 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Here Comes Buck Uncle Buck: Official Clip - Here Comes Buck 2:59 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - I'm Your Uncle Buck Uncle Buck: Official Clip - I'm Your Uncle Buck 1:59 Uncle Buck: Official Clip - The Buck-mobile Uncle Buck: Official Clip - The Buck-mobile 2:16 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and her husband, Bob (Garrett M. Brown), have to leave town for a family emergency, there is only one person available to babysit for their three kids: Bob's lazy, carefree brother, Buck (John Candy). While he immediately gets along with the two younger children (Gaby Hoffman, Macaulay Culkin), Buck must change his bachelor lifestyle if he wants to be a responsible caregiver for the angst-filled teenager, Tia (Jean Louisa Kelly).
Director
John Hughes
Producer
John Hughes, Tom Jacobson
Screenwriter
John Hughes
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures, Hughes Entertainment
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 16, 1989, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 2, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$63.9M
Runtime
1h 40m
Sound Mix
Surround
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