Planes, Trains, and Automobiles written and directed by John Hughes offers a touching turning point for 80s teen genre king. Unlike most of his teen classic flicks of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off which dealt with teen sensitive issues of self-acceptance of yourself and others, puberty, sex, and facing your future ahead.
Planes Trains and Automobiles marks Hughes's departure from the Teen Genre and into more wholesome subjects related to marriage, family, and giving back to those in need. He combines all elements of character development and physical comedy he's gained from these previous films to help create this timeless pre-Holiday classic.
What piqued my interest in this film as a young lad is when I saw the opening title come flashing through the screen in which then I was only in awe of John Hughes's brilliance. As fast as the title comes flashing across the screen is in direct line with the fast pacing chain of events that leads our travelers on a cross country trip by HOWEVER means necessary to make it on time for turkey day. After all, it is the holidays and during the Holidays everything is in full swing, fast paced from Thanksgiving Preparations, to Black Friday, to the dawn of a busy Xmas retail season.
The Travelers John Candy and Steve Martin are a wonderful tribute to Neil Simon's 1968 Odd Couple. Martin plays an uptight, picky, selfish business man who only cares about his needs and his needs first. Whereas, John Candy plays the poor, unkempt, lovable teddy bear whose amusing stories and anecdotes are only funny to him in hopes that someone would lend an ear to listen. Throughout the movie the two play a delightfully humorous tug of war to see past their differences in order to find their way home.
From the busy family man business traveler to anyone whose ever tried to get somewhere on time knows that what could go wrong can go wrong . As the movie opens up in New York City two days before Thanksgiving. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is eagerly waiting to trade in his suit and tie for the time honored tradition of warm turkey, dressing, and hot pumpkin pie with his family.
However, a snow blizzard ruptures through Neil's home of Chicago canceling all flights therefore diverting his flight from NYC to Wichita, Kansas. If that isn't enough his journey is delayed even further when he collides with Del Griffith a run of the mill top-hat Shower-Curtain salesman fully equipped with pointless jokes, and non-nonsensical ramblings that are as wide as his suitcase trunk.
Oh yes, they've met before when Del stole Neal's cab earlier in the day and after meeting again in the airport this is the last person Neal wants to meet. However, they both know they are all they got and if they want out of their predicament they are going to have to learn to coincide their differences.
The enjoyable part throughout the movie is seeing them attempt to coincide with their differences to achieve their goal . However, achieving their goal has its many ups and downs. They end up spending the night in a seedy, dumpy hotel on the wrong side of town, endure the painful humility and torture of servicing a rental care complaints, as they ride an endless road of enough breakdowns and delays that could flare up a migraine.
We all know they are going to reach their destination but we revel with laughter in watching their arduous journey unfold. Steve Martin does a great performance in presenting to us the facade of an everyday guy who wants nothing more than a safe peaceful journey without any noises or distractions .
Sure Neal Page is portrayed as a cold-hearted man but given his situation we can sympathize with his character
It's through Neal we find out that Del wasn't really as annoying as he was made to be but more of a lost soul who needed to be touched. Yes, Del is loud, obnoxious, messy, and display a hideous aroma of bad manners . However, he's just a big guy who carries around a lot of baggage of a past-marriage life he can never get back.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is one of those rare movies that delights us with a wonderful blend of slapstick comedy mixed with a lighthearted drama. It warms our soul with delight and laughter making it a perfect addition on a cold winters night .
To everyone and all Have A Happy Thanksgiving !
JOE'S FAVORITE TRACK FROM THE PLANES TRAINS TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES SOUNDTRACK :
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