Thanksgiving. A lovely time in America when we all can eat like starved animals without criticism. We all end up plumper than the turkey we just devoured and usually nose dive straight into a heavenly food coma. The leftover will last us for weeks, with the gravy lasting until Christmas. How does that happen?
After we have just stuffed our faces, we crowd up on the couch and watch lame television shows or football. All families have Thanksgiving traditions, but one should be quickly picked up.
The enjoyment of one of the best holiday films to date; John Hughes’ “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.”
“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” (1987) stars comedic legends Steve Martin, who plays Neal Page and the beloved John Candy as Del Griffith and together the two embark on a cross country trek to get home before the holiday rolls past them.
At first glance, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” seems like another run-of-the-mill buddy-comedy flick. This, however, is the incorrect assumption.
Neal Page (Martin) is a grumpy, sarcastic, and stuck-up businessman who just wants to get home and enjoy Thanksgiving with his family.
On the flip side is Del Griffith (Candy) who is chatty, unbelievably upbeat, and fiercely loyal. You can see the two are not going to see eye to eye already.
Other than the stark hilarity of the film, it also shows immense character development. At first, the two are at odds at every moment, but they slowly warm up to each other and begin to recognize their feelings and what they mean to each other.
The genius of the film lies within the comedic legends and their starring role. Martin and Candy had done stand up time and time again in the past and knew each other fairly well. With that, the relationship in the film feels genuine.
The fights, the jokes, the mishaps, and hijinks all feel totally real. That is the defining quality of the film that makes it an instant classic and purely and wholeheartedly hilarious.
With the film’s pure hilarity in mind,the film displays scenes that are sure to leave you in tears with a pained abdomen.
From the hotel to Del’s dancing while driving, it is clear to see the actor’s sense of humor. But no scene is better than Neal’s profanity laced tirade at a car renting center.
Frustrated and livid, Neal rents a car to drive home as he and Del “separated” to get home faster. But once at the lot, he discovers his car his missing, and soon treks back to the center to give a receptionist an absolute ear full. What follows is the best string of obscenities and insults ever uttered in any film.
An important quality of the film to note is how no matter what, be it a fight or the desire to go it alone, the two always find their way back together. It is an angering friendship that was meant to be from the start when they first met on a flight to Chicago.
In the end, “Planes,Trains, and Automobiles is a fantastic holiday-themed film that is sure to make you laugh and get closer to your family.