universalstudios
Uncle buck

Uncle Buck is a 1989 American comedy film directed by John Hughes and starring John Candy and Amy Madigan, with Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Jay Underwood, and Laurie Metcalf in supporting roles. Produced by Hughes Entertainment, it was released by Universal Pictures on August 16, 1989 in the United States and Canada and April 13, 1990 in the United Kingdom, to mixed reviews and grossed $79.2 million worldwide.

Plot

Bob and Cindy Russell relocate from Indianapolis to the Chicago suburbs with their three children: rebellious teenager Tia, talkative eight-year-old Miles, and six-year-old Maizy. Tia resents the move and often clashes with her mother. When Cindy's father suffers a heart attack, Bob and Cindy must travel back to Indianapolis on short notice. Unable to find a suitable babysitter, they reluctantly leave the children in the care of Bob's irresponsible brother, Buck.

Buck is an unemployed bachelor who survives by betting on horse racing and indulges in heavy drinking and smoking. His long-term girlfriend, Chanice, wants him to settle down, but he resists commitment. Despite his flaws, Buck quickly bonds with Miles and Maizy through his humor and unconventional approach to caregiving, while Tia remains openly hostile and embarrassed by his behavior.

As Buck adjusts to suburban life, he struggles with domestic responsibilities but makes genuine efforts to care for the children. He takes them bowling, defends Maizy from her strict school assistant principal, and throws Miles an improvised birthday party, driving off an unreliable clown who arrives late and intoxicated. He also grows suspicious of Tia's boyfriend, Bug, whom he believes to be a negative influence.

Tensions escalate when Buck interferes with Tia's plans to spend time with Bug. In retaliation, Tia falsely tells Chanice that Buck is having an affair with their flirtatious neighbor, Marcy. When Chanice later sees Buck dancing awkwardly with Marcy, she believes the accusation and ends their relationship. The incident prompts Buck to reflect on his lifestyle and recognize the emptiness of his previously carefree existence.

When Tia sneaks out to attend a weekend party with Bug, Buck faces a dilemma: attend a high-stakes horse race that could secure his financial future or search for Tia. Choosing responsibility, he asks Chanice to watch Miles and Maizy and sets out to find her. At the party, Buck discovers Bug with another girl and incapacitates him, locking him in the trunk of his car. He later finds Tia walking home, upset, and she admits Buck was right about Bug.

Buck forces Bug to apologize to Tia before releasing him. Moved by Buck's concern, Tia reconciles with him and confesses to Chanice that she lied about the alleged affair, encouraging her to forgive Buck and recognize his potential as a committed partner and father figure.

Buck and Chanice reconcile, and Buck agrees to take a steady job at her auto shop. When Bob and Cindy return home following Cindy's father's recovery, they find their family dynamics improved. Tia begins repairing her relationship with her mother, and Buck departs on good terms, having earned the family's respect and affection.

Cast

Notable additional voices were provided by Patricia Arquette, Jack Blessing, Leigh French, and Julie Payne.

Home media and television

The film was released on VHS in the UK by CIC Video and Universal 10th September 1990 and 19th August 1991 and 16th November 1992. It got re-released by CIC, Universal, PolyGram Video and Karussell on 10th October 1994 and 8th January 1996 and it got re-released by Universal on 22nd May 2000.

On television in the UK, the film aired on ITV1 on Sunday 12th August 2007 at 4:10pm. As with Jaws 3 and *Batteries Not Included, the on-screen sponsorship idents were skipped entirely and went straight to the 1971 "AN MCA COMPANY" byline variant of the 1963 Universal Pictures logo after the ITV1 ident. At the beginning of each advert break during the film Uncle Buck, the 10 second break bumper on-screen sponsorship idents were skipped entirely and went straight to the 2006 ITV1 Break Bumper after the 2006 ITV1 Movie Break Bumper. At the end of each advert break during the film Uncle Buck, the 10 second break bumper on-screen sponsorship idents were skipped entirely and went straight to the 2006 ITV1 Movie Break Bumper after the promo. After the film finishes, the 5 second closing on-screen sponsorship idents were skipped entirely and went straight to the promo.