Uncle Buckisn’t just about the titular Buck, but also the kids he has to care for. With a family emergency forcing them to travel out of town, Cindy (Elaine Bromka) and Bob Russell (Garrett M. Brown) have no choice but to let Buck take care of their young son Miles (Culkin) and their two daughters - the young Maizy, played by eventual Emmy nomineeGaby Hoffmann, and the teenage Tia, played byYes, DearandTop Gun: MaverickalumJean Louisa Kelly. Miles and Maizy are quick to warm up to their fun uncle, buthe quickly realizes he needs to do some growing up as well to be a responsible caregiver for the rebellious Tia. It’s a fun ride that sees Buck slowly learn to leave the bachelor lifestyle behind to have a healthy relationship with his nieces and nephews and finally settle down with his girlfriend (Amy Madigan).
Despite only sporting a modest 62% score onRotten Tomatoesand generally receiving less universal lovethan Hughes’s other work,Uncle Buckis stillfondly remembered among Candy’s best filmsthanks primarily to the beloved actor’s performance. It was yet another hit for Hughes financially too, with a solid $72.9 million haul at the box office. The love for the film from audiences prompted multiple attempts at bringing Buck to television in some form, first in 1990 withKevin Meaneyas Buck and later in 2016 with an African-American cast featuringMike Eppsas the star, yet neither managed to recapture the magic and were quickly canceled.
‘Uncle Buck’ Is One of Candy and Hughes’s Many Team-Ups
Nothing can quite compare to the team-up of Hughes and Candy, which was going strong throughout the late 80s and early 90s. TheBreakfast Clubhelmer made Candyone of his on-screen regularsthroughout plenty of films in that time, from his smaller appearance as the jolly polka band leader Gus Polinski inHome Aloneto his co-starring role opposite a lividSteve MartininPlanes, Trains, and Automobiles.Uncle Buckwould be the last time Hughes directed Candy himself, but they’d continue to work together in projects he wrote and produced, likeOnly the LonelyandCareer Opportunities. Tragically, the star died tragically young from a heart attack in 1994, though he’d already cemented his status as a comedy favorite primarily through his work with Hughes. He’s still so well-beloved that fellow Canadian iconRyan Reynoldsannounced his plansto produce a documentary about Candy’s life in 2022withColin Hankstapped to direct.
Uncle Buckis now available to watch on Peacock. Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the latest films coming to and leaving streaming throughout the year.
Uncle Buck
Uncle Buck stars John Candy as Buck Russell, an eccentric uncle who comes to babysit his brother’s teenage daughter and two younger kids. Macaulay Culkin stars as the young Miles Russell alongside Gabby Hoffmann, and Jean Louisa Kelly. John Hughes directed Uncle Buck, coming off the heels of The Great Outdoors, which also starred John Candy.
