Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Doin' The Mess Around!

For my money it just doesn't get any funnier than watching John Candy play the piano on the dashboard as he flies down the highway. What a great scene from a great comedy. Steve Martin and John Candy are perfect together... one is a serious business minded family man (Martin) and the other is a fun loving everyday man who lives his life on the road (Candy). Circumstances happen to put these two together as they try to make it back home for Thanksgiving after being snowed in. I'm sure you all know the plot and have seen the movie, yet it's worth another look. This is a movie that can always put a smile to your face and it is one of John Candy's greatest roles. He shines in this movie and makes you wish he was still alive and doing The Mess Around for us. 5 stars all the way. One of the best at making you laugh. July 7, 2008

High class movie

Like other reviewers have said the Amazon review of this film is at best misleading. All films are subjective, but this is much better than their reviewer makes out IMO. Its consistently funny, with Steve Martin delivering one of his best performances. Indeed without Martin it would have been merely an average film. He takes it to another level. This is not to say that John Candy is bad, he isn't, but Steve Martin is the reason to see the film.

Essentially its a string of comedic set pieces, the train, the Motel, the car etc. Each of these have great moments, perhaps none better than the Motel where they find they have to share a bed. Theres also a lovely joke in the back of a flat bed truck with a dog in very cold weather.

My only criticism is the 80's music, which to fair I didn't like in the 80's! This has dated badly now. I also have mixed feelings about the ending as well. A little bit too soppy for my liking.

Overall though a fine movie with excellent performances, many laugh out loud moments, and a film that you can watch many times without being bored by it (mainly because of Steve Martin).
June 3, 2008

It is ironic that the best movie that John Hughes made wasn't a teen movie

When I think of "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" I smile. It is an absolutely wonderful movie. Yes, it is regarded as a comedy but when I think of it I think of it as more of a drama. The jokes don't get old. This is probably my favorite comedy of all time. Hughes takes the traveling nightmare genre to a whole new level. It's more a triumph in script writing than anything

For those who don't already know Planes, Trains and Automobiles is simple in its approach. Everything that can go wrong does. It's a comic routine that can be funny, but here it is a trip to hysterical. The plot is simple enough as well. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is on his way home for Thanksgiving. He's your typical businessman that works in New York and has a family he wants to see in Chicago. The only problem is everything from delayed flights to ripped up car tickets happen on the way. Only worsening matters, Del Griffith (John Candy), is along for the ride. An annoying shower curtain ring salesman, Neal can't get rid of him no matter how hard he tries.

John Candy gives the performance of his too short career as the traveling shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith. What makes Candy's performance so impressive is that while Del is an obnoxious, annoying slob, Candy shows that this is a very lonely, sweet, kind, and caring man with a great heart. This is a man who is putting his needs behind the needs of another person, a complete stranger in Neil Page. Candy creates an incredibly complex man, who the audience really gets to know and genuinely care about. They say comedies are the hardest films to get nominated for Oscars, which is true. And while "PT & A" is no Best Picture winner, it certainly in my mind has a performance not just worthy of a nomination but of an Oscar as well. It would be interesting to see how Candy's performance would be regarded if the film came out today.

The ending, whew!, it's a rough one. And again, despite all the wonderful comedy in this film, whenever I think of "PT & A" I think of the wonderful character of Del Griffith and the powerful ending. If you haven't seen this movie, rent it. I strongly recommend it as a first rate comedy that doesn't come along often. Whether it's the music capturing the perfect mood in the hilarious bedroom scene or meeting Owen, it's an earnestly frantic and tender trip through the modern transportation system.
March 17, 2008

Marshall Fine - were you just having a bad day?

Sorry - usually I "live and let live" ... and I agree that all should have and express their own opinion - but c'mon, Amazon! Where did you dig up this Marshall Fine, who provides your official review on this product?

I don't get it - did his medication not kick in before writing this review? I am trying not to out-and-out attack him in text ... but it ain't easy!

On the subject of this movie - he is WAY off. Please IGNORE AMAZON'S OFFICIAL REVIEW and read the comments of the "rank and file" who have seen the movie. You will see a solid wall of people who reject Mr. Fine's interpretation of this film. Or just look at the Average Customer Review!

I consider my tastes in humor very refined. First of all, I am not a big fan of "toilet humor". And even though this film sometimes dips slightly in that direction, it remains one of my favorite comedies of all time.

Martin is at his stuffy best and Candy at his socially inept best. The two of them, forced to interact, provide some of the funniest moments ever set to film. As far as buddy pics go, only Lemmon and Matthau did it better.

I can't say I really appreciated alot of stuff that John Candy did. I thought it was very lowbrow and repetitive, derivative of better stuff from the likes of John Belushi (and even lesser stuff from Chris Farley).

However, in this film, he just blew me away! He shows talents in this movie that i wish I had seen more of, including several unexpected and satisfying turns into solid drama. We've seen this overbearing oaf character of his before --- but this time around, you will actually sympathize with that character.

Plus - this must be said - the last five minutes of this movie is so exquisitely performed and edited and scored ... that it NEVER fails to turn me (a burly forty-something man) into a happily slobbering mess. A shocking secret is laid bare with just a few words --- and everything that has come before it is given a new light.

If the last few minutes of this movie doesn't at least bring a lump to your throat - sorry, but you have no soul. :) It is one of the finest and most satisfying movie endings OF ALL TIME - in my book, it ranks right up there with Spielberg or Capra at their best.

The final freeze-frame of this movie is burned indelibly into my brain. I will never forget what a solid talent John Candy could be from this one shot alone. I cannot look at it without tearing up.

I realize I'm probably coming off as over-passionate about this ... but PLEASE IGNORE MR. FINE'S REVIEW! Buy this movie as a solid addition to your comedy collection, or at least rent it elsewhere. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

PARENTAL ADVISORY: Believe it or not, despite the R rating, it is a great family film! However, when you see Steve Martin throw his suitcase to the ground in the airport parking lot and stomp his way back to the car rental place ... um, turn the sound down for the following scene ... or clear the kids out of the room.

What follows is pretty much the ONLY reason the movie carries an "R" rating. Martin drops the F-bomb about 15 times in a single tirade. It is a hilarious scene and well-justified, but it must have been a difficult and courageous decision to include this scene, since cutting it out would've automatically given this movie a PG rating. With the sole exception of this scene, the rest of the movie is surprisingly family-friendly.

(Oh, and my favorite piece of trivia about this movie - in the scene where Candy attempts to rent a hotel room by bartering his watch? The desk clerk is a cameo by Dan Castellaneta - the voice of Homer Simpson.) March 11, 2008

My All Time Favorite....

Having worked in the travel industry for the last 20 years; this movie rocks. It really gives an up close and personal look at one can happen if there is just one mishap. The matchup of Candy and Martin is first rate; they meshed so well together. Too bad John Candy died before he could ever work with Steve Martin Again. The writing and story line are written perfectly and the gags come across on screen first rate. This is my 2nd favorite John Hughes movie behind 16 candles. February 23, 2008

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