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Ending Ruins What Should've Been A Great Film

posted 12 years ago by meatmeatmeatmeat
19 replies | jump to latest

I'm not usually one who advocates a mawkish or soppy "Happy Endings" in films, but I think Uncle Buck could have done with such an ending, or at the least, provided more positive closure.

For me, the over-arching theme here is an effectively excommunicated family member selflessly delivering the goods in fine style during his family's time of need. Buck was written off for his lifestyle alone - unproductivity, laziness, gambling - the fact that he was a genuinely decent guy and had a heart of gold evidently counted for squat. The scene when he sees old pictures and realises that in one of them his image has been folded over was particularly sad. Yet, despite the undeservedly harsh cold-shoulder being shown to him, he steps in and does an A* job with the kids, including passionately defending Maizy to the Principal in school and looking out for Tia despite her continued spitefulness towards him.

In the end he wins over Tia and gains acceptance, and this, coupled with the antics and situations leading up to the final scenes gives the film a thoroughly feel-good vibe. Then, the final scene undoes it all...

The climax ONLY really focuses on Tia. From what it seems to me, Buck is effectively snubbed by his brother and his total B*TCH wife - only Tia stops outside to see him off with a wave, and thus the fate of Buck is left unresolved. Is he forgiven/accepted in light of his efforts, or not?

My gut feeling is no, he isn't, given the lack of interaction with Bob and Cindy at the ending. I'd have to guess that Cindy brushes the whole episode under the carpet, conveniently neglects to ever mention him in a positive light again and thus sees to it that her young and impressionable kids are freshly inculcated with the opinion that Buck is a worthless piece of sh*t, his efforts ultimately all for nothing, with no lasting gratitude whatsoever. There is no evidence that these pair of *beep* have learned a thing.

Another five or ten minutes could have sorted this - perhaps for example a passage of time, followed by Buck receiving a phone call from Cindy, asking if he and Chanice would like to come over to visit during the Christmas vacation. Buck agrees, hangs up and a wide smile begins to crack across his face... *fade to black*

Anybody else feel the same way?

For me, the film aches for a thoroughly positive ending after all the hard work, character-building and lessons learned. Instead, it closes with the reaffirmation that his brother still doesn't value him, and that he's effectively been used. All the happiness leading up to the end is destroyed and I always wind up feeling sad and sorry for Buck.

Ultimately for me, this unfortunately makes Uncle Buck a self-conflicted, bitter-sweet comedy that's tried and failed to be a feel-good comedy.

When you're fighting a weasel, he's bigger than a man.

[–] quirt1 11 years ago

The focus at the climax was on Tia because of her bad relationship with her mother. It had to be shown that she wanted to start rebuilding a close relationship with her mother, and that her mother understood that.

The lack of a big goodbye with his brother & his wife was unnecessary because it really wasn't important to have one. He wasn't "snubbed."

What was really important was his new relationship with Tia. That's what was rightly shown in the end, so no need to feel sorry for Buck if he wasn't fully accepted by Cindy after that. He could always catch up on the family happenings while having coffee out with Tia. And it's quite possible he would be invited over to the house more often.

[–] jh66 11 years ago

Wasn't "snubbed"?

So what was that scene with the hidden wedding photo then?

[–] quirt1 11 years ago

The OP was talking about the climactic scene. The "hidden wedding photo" scene took place near the beginning of the film.

[–] seamancup 11 years ago

I agree with the OP on every account. At the end we're left with the feeling that the relatonship between Buck and his cold shoulder brother and sister-in-law hasn't warmed awfully much. Even if he stays in touch with Tia, meeting up for the odd "coffee in the city", he's not going to have any real relationship with the kids he's now grown to love unless he finally gets the approval of his opinionated bitch sister-in-law. And as no such scene is provided at the end my impression was that she still just thought of him as a bum and undesireable to have around.

I can't quite get over what a horrible person the mother is. I mean honestly, what kind of person folds wedding pictures like that removing undesirable family members? I'm assuming Buck never really did anything wrong to deserve it, other than being a "bum". So no, this feel-good movie definitely has got a bitter feel-bad ending.

[–] quirt1 11 years ago

If the Mother (rightly) credits Buck as the reason for Tia's new outlook on life it would make sense that Buck would be invited over more often.

I choose to be optimistic. And thus have no reason to think it was a "bitter ending." Quite the opposite in fact. If Tia could change, so could the mother.

[–] seamancup 11 years ago

Seing as the mother was so very opinionated when it came to Buck I doubt she would be able to attribute any real positive change in Tia to him specifically. But if this change of heart had really occured then surely we would get to see it and not just hope that it happened off-screen.

But indeed the ending wasn't all bitter, I mean Tia changed for the better and Buck learned a thing or two about responsibility while also forming relationships with his nieces and nephew. But seing as it was so painfully clear how rejected and shunned Buck was by his brother's family (bitch wife), an on-screen resolution at the end of the movie of such an issue seems called for in a feel-good comedy. Now without it, the ending just seemed slightly out of pace with the tone of the movie.

[–] quirt1 11 years ago

I'll sum up my views, most of which I've said before.

The ending/resolution of the movie was about two things-
1. Tia and her Mother reconnecting. (resolution)
2. Tia saying goodbye to Uncle Buck. (ending)

It was not about Uncle Buck and his brother reconnecting. It was not about Uncle Buck and his sister-in-law reconnecting. Those resolutions just were not important because those were secondary characters with secondary issues that were simply not as important as those listed above.

Subtracting time from the resolution & ending scenes to show a scene with the brother and sister-in-law and Buck "making up" doesn't make sense. Adding on another scene with them & Buck really doesn't make sense either. It adds nothing important and would seem extraneous & oddly "out of pace."

So in other words, I think the ending to the film was perfectly paced and definitely feel-good.

[–] seamancup 11 years ago

In my view Buck selflessly stepping up to help out in the family's time of need only to find that his brother's family in reality wants so little to do with him that they go to the trouble of actually removing him from photographs, warrants some small resolution of this rather disturbing fact. At least there could have been a small comment made at the end about spending the following holiday together or something like that. That's barely an extra five seconds that would have provided a good marker that Buck in the end wasn't necessarily just used to be discarded later on when his brother and wife no longer needed him to do them a favour.

[–] fiatlux-1 11 years ago

If the Mother (rightly) credits Buck as the reason for Tia's new outlook on life it would make sense that Buck would be invited over more often.

I choose to be optimistic. And thus have no reason to think it was a "bitter ending." Quite the opposite in fact. If Tia could change, so could the mother.

Exactly! Its implied that Buck will get the 'credit' for the renewed relationship between Tia & her mother.
And if this is indeed the case, the mom will likely re-think her opinion of Buck.
It won't be a deep love most likely, but at least a like or cease-fire.

"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."

[–] quirt1 11 years ago

Totally agree.

[–] Bravesfan17 11 years ago

I like the movie for the most, part. I have mixed feelings about the ending myself. I liked the resolutions between Tia and the mother, and Tia and Buck. I do wish there was more closure between Buck and the parents. I wouldn't expect it to be perfect.

I am a peacock! You gotta let me fly!

[–] gabby_bm 11 years ago

Reading between the lines we can see that Tia will be Buck's advocate. We can also see that Tia and Charise share in the joy of that lovable oaf. Yes, it is sad that Buck and his brother and sister-in-law are estranged, but Buck has made an impression on the others and ultimately the estranged relationship need not be mended as new friendships were forged with the others and Buck's most important missions were seen to their conclusions.

I don;t think it was necessary to show or demonstrate years of aggression and slighting being swept away. That, like every other conflict would find its resolution over time. And the kids will play an important part in that.

It's inferred.

**WARNING: MY POSTS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS**
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[–] jevicci 11 years ago

To original poster and all who are echoing their thoughts: I'm wondering if I saw a different version of the movie than you guys as this post doesn't make any sense to me. The version of the movie I saw went like this: the parents come home, the mother and daughter have their tender moment, then it cuts to Buck walking out the door to go home with everyone following him to the door, smiling and pleasant. The brother thanks him and they watch him walk to his car, then all but Tia go inside, leaving them to have their final wave goodbye. Was there a scene in there that I missed? Where's the snub? To me this seems like a very pleasant send off. If, as you think, the parents still feel the same way about him as they did at the beginning of the film, they would have given him a much colder send off. Rewatch it and you'll see that they appear genuinely friendly and nice.

[–] hisloverisolde 11 years ago

I somewhat agree with the OP, The first time I watched this film I thought the 'folded photo' would feature again at the end. Maybe the camera would focus on the unfolded photo and slow zoom out to reveal it framed and hanging on the wall amongst other family photos, but it wasn't to be.

I do love the final shot though, the freeze frame on a beaming Buck, when you have an actor like Candy I guess it's hard to resist a closing shot like that, very much like PTA, he just has a face that makes you smile :)

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] queencat18 10 years ago

I never felt that the family would remain estranged from Buck at the end. Mainly because of how Chanise was talking to them, going with a long goodbye, saying all the things that people say when they feel they are going to see those people again. Also, I never felt that the brother was that bad. He was just controlled by the awful wife, who was terrible to Buck. Besides, considering all of the progress he made with Tia, Cindy would realize quickly that it was Buck, and Tia would also credit him with the change. Even Miles and Maisie would say something. They would definitely want to see their uncle again, and even if Cindy didn't want to, Bob would totally allow the kids to spend time with him. And I could easily see Tia coming into the city at least once a month to spend some time and have a coffee with her uncle. Cindy's treatment of Buck was awful, but she was a secondary character, and it was more important to show a resolution with Tia, not Bob and Cindy.

I actually loved the final picture of Buck smiling. Thought it was a great way to fade to black.

"Oh my God! You put a living room where the crack den used to be!"

[–] redban (6754) 4 years ago

Disagree when you say the climax focuses on Tia alone. There is a focus on Buck too ... he made amends with his girlfriend by showing that he can be responsible. Buck and the girlfriend they leave together, making jokes and having affable conversation.

The family (outside of Tia) may or may not have changed their opinion of Buck. But the film shows that Buck has improved his life, as seen with this girlfriend.

[–] filmschooldegree (350) 4 years ago

It's just the nature of family in some cases, felt authentic that his bro would just use him when needed

[–] Boromir (10114) 2 years ago

The relationship between the brothers and between Cindy and Buck had to end with some kind of closure. It was wrong decision by John Hughes leave it without any answer. The story of a brother who is forbidden (not officially but still..) to visit his brother's children for years and the family album scene are too emotional for leaving them unanswered in a feel good movie. All Hughes needed is one min scene to resolve it.

This is maybe my only real criticism about the movie.