Review of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) by Chris C — 17 Nov 2017
Comedy classic that ranks as one of the finest ever made but probably the only really great Thanksgiving movie. Steve Martin & John Candy are perfect together, making one of the best comic pairings in movie.
Martin plays straight man perfectly, giving Neal Page the right mix of rationality yet snobbishness, while Candy made Del Griffith both lovable & obnoxious at the same time. As a result, you understood both sides of the character, creating perfect comic conflict.
Behind the camera, John Hughes crafts a hilarious but heartfelt comedy about two guys just trying to get home for Thanksgiving, and while some scenarios are dated in the age of smart phones & Uber, the message still holds up, from sharing hotel rooms to night road trips.
Hughes also adds the right mix of heart (Neal & Del actually have it out in the first act of the film), making a film that is ultimately sweet but not over doing it. Overall, a true comedy classic and a must for every Thanksgiving, since it's the only good movie about the holiday to date.
This review of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) was written by Chris C on 17 Nov 2017.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles has generally received very positive reviews.
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