Review of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) by Storm C — 15 Apr 2013

John Hughes filmed the 80's. If you happened to be growing up in this illustrious period the chances are that you where a fan of a John Hughes movie and not only that, but you related quite strongly to that movie and it's easy to see why, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day off, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, all linked by the unavoidable certainty of growing up. In the case of Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Hughes wanted to depart from the teenage comedy drama and with that, he created a classic.

Title: Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Director: John Hughes.

Starring: Steve Martin and John Candy.

In effect, Planes, Trains & Automobiles is simply about Neal Page (Steve Martin) trying to get home to share Thanksgiving with his family, however, the journey from is made almost impossible by the addition of Del Griffiths (John Candy) an annoyingly loud yet lovable Curtain Ring Salesman. Unbeknownst to Del, he has actually been in Neal's way from the very beginning, from leaving his trunk in Neal's path causing him to trip and lose his taxi, to inadvertently hijacking the taxi that Neal eventually manages to hail. It's safe to say that this duo got off on the wrong foot, but the arrival of a freak blizzard which cancels their flight to Chicago, forces them together as their hapless journey begins, New York to Chicago by any means, be it planes, trains or automobiles.

It is not often that a film has every aspect hit the mark, with this one however, with a masterful director who has crafted a beautiful script, to a cast that perform with such professionalism from comic timing to heart wrenching emotion. Even the films soundtrack, "Every Time You Go Away" is beautifully teased through out the film until it is unleashed in all of its glory during the final scenes.

It's strange to think that Steve Martin give such a wonderful performance of, arguably, the straight man of the duo. He does a marvellous job of making us, the audience; fully understand that this half-wit buffoon who won't leave him alone is currently ruining his life. It's about half way through the film, that the audiences perception of Del is suddenly flipped when he finally calls Neal out on his snobbery and arrogance, in a scene that sees John Candy give the most incredible performance of his career, delivering a monologue that would give Jaws' Quint a run for his money, we suddenly fall entirely in love with this character who, before now has simply been a comic relief. The scene does not put the audience on Del's side, but actually infuses the two characters into one entity, two people who just want to get home and from this beautiful and moving scene, we are suddenly backing both characters.

The greatest thing about this film is that we get to watch two characters develop a strong friendship and bond over often hilarious and sometime very emotional circumstances as is evident when Hughes decides to reveal more about Del Griffith's life. A films that is filled to the brim with unforgettable scenes, some to look out for are: Del's Monologue, Flintstones on the Coach, Neal's car hire complaint (In which Steve Martin says the F word around 18 times in the space of 1 minute) and a scene that can only be described with the words "Those aren't pillows". All in all, John Hughes has made a film that completed the 80's, what happens when we grow up? Well Neal represents the successful business man and Del reflects the average Joe who is quite contempt with loving family and friends, as it turns out, both paths lead to pain and misery but in the end we realise that it's the little things that matter.

5/5.

By Adam Barker.