Ferris Bueller's Day Off

There are films that are said to define a generation and there are films that play as though they would like to define a generation but probably shouldn't. The question I have today is which one is Ferris Bueller's Day Off?
Hopefully I don't have to explain too much about this film. If you haven't seen it then you are likely under the age of 15 and your opinion doesn't matter anyway (take that Justin Bieber!). In fact, the makers of the film have worked so hard to make sure that the film remains recognizable that they have taken steps to ensure that Matthew Broderick will forever look exactly like the films title character.
I should confess that prior to re watching this film my prevailing thought was that this movie has become increasingly over rated as time goes by. What once was just another John Hughes film teen comedy has seemingly come to provide people with a hope for what adolescence should be. Watching it again I must say that I hope not.
Before you boo and hiss at me let me say a few things. First of all, Ferris Bueller is charming, impulsive and likable. He just isn't believable. Secondly, the film is filled with quotable lines. The problem for me is that quotable lines and a charming lead character do not make a great film.
What bothers me with this film is the lazy way in which John Hughes approaches all of the characters not named Ferris Bueller. The adults are all idiots, his sister is spiteful and cold and Ferris's peers are gullible and dead eyed. Bueller's two cohorts, his best friend Cameron and his girlfriend the hot chick, are simply there to tag along with Bueller and act impressed every time one of his schemes works out. Even when the film tries to have a meaningful moment with Cameron's character it cuts that short so we can watch Bueller 'comically' race home before his parents can discover that he was faking being sick.
None of the real issues this film paws get resolved in any sort of meaningful way. Bueller's relationship with his girlfriend achieves a level of meaningless following around as Bueller laments graduating and leaving her behind in one of his many moments spent talking directly to the camera. As for his 'best friend,' he seems to have genuine problems that could use a sympathetic ear but instead Bueller's friendship is there merely to provide Cameron with a distraction to his problems while Bueller himself feeds his own ego.
All of that being said, there is nothing wrong with liking this film because in truth all it wants to do is be likable. It's a great film for shutting your brain off or finding on USA at 2 pm on a Saturday. But it should not be consider as a defining film for a generation as it ultimately is just superficial pop entertainment. Unless of course you feel that is an apt description for a generation.