Planes, Trains and Automobiles (DVD, 2000)

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.

When everything that could possibly go wrong does, then you know you're watching Planes, Trains & Automobiles, a travel-disaster hilarious tale of two men, fastidious ad executive Neal Page (Steve Martin) and an overbearing shower-curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith (John Candy), who crossed paths while Neal was attempting to get to Chicago for Thanksgiving with his family amid the chaos of New York city's busiest travel season.

The trip starts bad and gets worse. Throughout, the two are faced with flights' delays and cancellations, trains breaking down, and cars burning up. While this rather uncomfortable journey may sounds depressing, their ordeal is completely hilarious, interspersed with brilliant humor and funny mishaps. Admittedly, towards the end, there's a sad but cleverly crafted moment that touches the heart as we're presented with the flip side of Del's life and the sudden transformation of Neal from an intolerant and exasperated character into a considerate and compassionate one.

Directed by John Hughes in 1987, Planes, Trains & Automobiles delivers a first-rate comedy that is likely to be on many peoples' viewing list whether it is a holiday season or not.

Cleverly understated and deceptively hidden under Neal Page's (Steve Martin) journey of misadventures, pratfalls and comedic errors to get back home in time for Thanksgiving dinner lies the aura of Del Griffith (John Candy).

As Neal tries desperately to get back home, he and Del encounter everything from cancelled flights, motel room disasters, to rental car fires. The harder they try, the further off course they get.

When Neal and Del finally part ways, Neal enjoys a chuckle as he thinks about all the bad luck he encountered on his journey home. He suddenly comes to the realization that Del is very much alone in this world. Director John Hughes drops this bombshell on us by cutting back and forth as Neil is reminicing by interplaying the scenes and Del's dialogue.

The visual and verbal comedy between Steve Martin and John Candy only enhances the stark contrast between the two characters and is exemplified by the warmth of Neil's family life and the solitary one of Del's.

Talk about getting blindsided. John Hughes tells a tale of two men's journies through life, hides everything behind the veil of comedy and then exposes the characters for who they are.

Laugh at the comedy, few can better the interaction of John Candy and Steve Martin. Enjoy the journey.

Hope you like it!

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The Snowstorm.

I absolutely love this movie and have watched it many many times. I had this on VHS and wanted to replace it with a DVD. Steve Martin & John Candy have excellent roles. There is a small scene with Kevin Bacon racing to beat Steve Martin for a taxi only to be taken over by John Candy and his trunk of personal items including his hypo-allergenic pillow and shower curtain rings, from here on it is one hilarious event after another. If you want to laugh till your sides ache this is a must see movie, even the ending will surprise you! You won't be disappointed.

This is one of Steve Martin's best movies. He is priceless as the luckless Niel Page just trying to get home for Thanksgiving! Him and John Candy truly make this movie a terrific one!