Review of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) by Chris H — 02 Feb 2013

To simply call this film a comedy would do it a deep injustice. It is more than that. Like Psycho, Goodfellas and The Odd Couple, it is a film that has come to transcend its genre. Like these other films, it does this because the characters are real. We know these people. In them we may even see ourselves.

Take the character of Del Griffith (John Candy). He is imposing, yes, and at times overbearing. He imposes himself upon the more private and apparently reserved character of Neil Page (Steve Martin). One may expect Del to be an open book; to share everything about himself. However, writer/director John Hughes has him keep secret the most painful realities of his personal life. When these are revealed late in the film, you understand immediately why he did this: although lonely, he had wanted Neil to accept him on his own terms.

This is pitch perfect writing and elevates this film above anything else John Hughes ever created. It was his masterpiece.