Review of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) by Ian M — 15 Jul 2018

I think this is a good film elevated to near greatness by it's really inspired casting. As lots of comic actors have learned (I'm looking at you Eddie Murphy), bad material can't be made funny just by casting a funny actor.

But decent material can be made near perfect by casting people who just naturally inhabit their roles. Martin and Candy seem to be inhabiting versions of themselves here, and the movie is that much greater for it.

Otherwise, I think it generally has the advantages of Hughes's best work as well as some of his biggest faults. He can be too sentimental, and this film certainly is at times, especially in the last 20 minutes or so.

However, he also had a talent for taking familiar ideas in directions that were novel enough to make them seem really fresh. Most films with this kind of plot would focus on the slapstick of these guys fighting, and would be a dreary exercise.

This film really dwells on how these two clash and make each other uncomfortable without really trying to. There's a moment early in the film where Martin explodes at Candy, and it's funny, and you expect Candy to react with equal hostility, but that's not what happens.

It's the kind of moment that really elevates this to among Hughes's very best.