Always Take the Cannoli

Can you believe Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is thirty years old this year? Yepper, that teenage oracle of wisdom and guidance has reached the milestone of no longer being twenty-something. To celebrate, because how can you not celebrate Ferris, this weekend in Chicago folks will gather at Ferris Fest. If you’re in the area, put on your Ray-Bans, hop into your Ferrari, and go check out the fun and report back to us.

Looking out from the perch here in The Middle-Aged Cheap Seats, I’ve come to appreciate movies that go the distant and have staying power across the years. Truly memorable cinema gives you dialogue that you reference often. But these aren’t just earworms, they’re hidden gems that offer the exact guidance you need, precisely when you need it. Allow me to offer a few of my favorite examples.

ghostbusters

Hidden Insight: Fake it til you make it. Act like you know what you’re doing until you figure it out. I’ve bluffed my way into the boardroom more than once.

 

Animal House

Hidden Insight: EVERYONE makes mistakes. Sometimes you just have to chalk it up to life experience and move on.

 

the godfather

Hidden Insight: Know the difference between what’s urgent and what’s important, and do what’s important first.

 

LEgally blonde

Hidden Insight: shed what doesn’t work for you, and sometimes this means shedding people.

 

all aobut eve

Hidden Insight: Sometimes you have to just power through the tough times. Put on your big girl panties, buckle up, and ride it out.

 

pretty woman

Hidden Insight: Be careful who you step on, piss off, or diss. You may need them to have your back in the future.

 

jaws2

Hidden Insight: Know when to ask for help. Life is big and messy and sometimes you need a cruise ship, not a row boat. Know when to ask for the cruise ship.

And last, but certainly not least, our dear boy Ferris:

 

FB Day off

Hidden Insight: Every now and then you need to change things up a bit. When was the last time you played hooky from work? Or took a day off for absolutely no reason other than it’s a beautiful sunny day? Or ate breakfast for dinner? Give yourself permission to be weird every once in a while.

 

What are your favorite movie quotes? Is there a particular movie that you go back to time and again for a little pick me up? Please leave some of your fave gems in the comments.

Cheers,

Kimba

17 thoughts on “Always Take the Cannoli”

  1. Nice surprise, your take on “leave the gun; take the cannoli”. Made me think of many many lines from the Godfather and other movies. This one: “Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in.” Good for the persistence and willingness to keep moving through business errands and negotiations even (especially) when they’re taking longer than you planned to resolve.

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  2. As a huge movie person, I love this post, Kimberly! Love the quotes and the insights you gleaned from them. My favourite all-time movie is probably “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and I can watch it over and over again because of the message of the movie. The last 45 minutes get me every time. There is a quote in that film, “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” This really speaks to our interconnectedness for me. I just heard that Thelma and Louise is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year as well. Amazing how time passes and how films imbed themselves in our consciousness. Especially great movies that offer a timeless message. Thanks for bringing back some memories with this post!

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  3. Great topic and Ferriss Bueller’s Day off is one of my all-time favorite movies. I have a few favorite movie quotes – the one from Jaws is certainly one that comes to mind, and then there is “Go ahead, make my day.”, “Yippie-ki-yay, motherf..er!” and last but not least, “Wax on, was off.” which is a great reminder that it takes practice and consistency to achieve most things that matter.

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  4. These are awesome! 30 years old. Wow. Time to dust it off and watch it again! A quote I often repeat when asked to do something … “I shall strive to be worthy of my post!” – John Darling in Peter Pan.

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  5. It’s hard to believe Ferris if 30 years old. Still love that movie. Another fave “Don’t put Babe in the corner.” Of course, Dirty Dancing! Another classic fave!

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