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Uncle Buck

Uncle Buck

Comedy · Drama · Family · 1989

Buck Russell, a lovable but slovenly bachelor, suddenly becomes the temporary caretaker of his nephew and nieces after a family emergency. His freewheeling attitude soon causes tension with his older niece Tia, loyal girlfriend Chanice, and just about everyone else who crosses his path.

Movie details

Uncle Buck

“He's crude. He's crass. He's family.”

1989 Comedy · Drama · Family 1h 40m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.8 / 10

Community rating

Buck Russell, a lovable but slovenly bachelor, suddenly becomes the temporary caretaker of his nephew and nieces after a family emergency. His freewheeling attitude soon causes tension with his older niece Tia, loyal girlfriend Chanice, and just about everyone else who crosses his path.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Uncle Buck?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Hughes

Written by

John Hughes

John Candy

John Candy

Buck Russell

Jean Louisa Kelly

Jean Louisa Kelly

Tia Russell

Gaby Hoffmann

Gaby Hoffmann

Maizy Russell

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin

Miles Russell

Amy Madigan

Amy Madigan

Chanice Kobolowski

Elaine Bromka

Elaine Bromka

Cindy Russell

Garrett M. Brown

Garrett M. Brown

Bob Russell

Court is in session

Put Uncle Buck on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.