Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

A unique holiday movie. I watched the November 25, 1987 comedy movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles, directed by John Hughes. Starring Steve Martin, John Candy, and Laila Robins, it takes place in New York City, Wichita, Jefferson City, St. Louis, and Chicago, and is rated R.

An advertising executive named Neal Page takes a plane to get back to his family two days before Thanksgiving. After the plane is forced to land, he must get help from a shower curtain ring salesman named Del Griffith. Traveling from train to bus to car, they must do what they can to get Neal home in time. The problem is that Neal is easily irritable and Del is easily irritating, making for a chaotic trip. Can they succeed in their journey without killing each other?

When it comes to Thanksgiving movies, there sadly is not that many options to watch. Unlike Halloween or Christmas, on which many movies are based, Thanksgiving is just not a popular choice. Luckily, I have this movie to enjoy over the holiday. I will start with the benefits by talking about the two leads. Steve Martin and John Candy play the snob vs. slob type of comedy perfectly. Steve Martin’s performance as Neal Page works as he is the straight man. Constantly annoyed by all the inconveniences around him, he makes us laugh with his short fuse. He is unlikable for much of the movie, but it still works because he is stressed out from the circumstances, so it is somewhat understandable too. John Candy’s performance as Del Griffith is even funnier as the out-of-control man. His antics are hysterical, as he keeps driving Martin crazy, but he is also a very nice and likable person, so it all balances out. These two make this movie as funny as it is.

The story is not anything to write too much about, though it is still worth noting. The movie was directed by John Hughes, who was also the director of The Breakfast Club and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, as well as the writer of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies and the Home Alone movies, so it is clear this guy had enough talent to pull this off. Still, this is a different kind of movie than those others, so he likely had to try even harder. Fortunately, all his efforts paid off. As I mentioned, the two contrasting types of people makes the comedy, but there is a smart nature to it. After an entire movie filled with comedy, they pull a surprising heartwarming scene at the end. Due to the contrast, you would think it does not work, but they pull it off effectively. It does also explore the negative aspects of both men’s personalities, as Neal’s constant anger and frustration and Del’s annoying habits are flaws that perfectly line up to create comedic results. This makes the story well written enough to work.

Overall, this is the movie to watch around Thanksgiving. While there sadly are not many options, this makes up for it and provides an enjoyable experience each year. The interaction between the two leads makes it hilarious, while there are sentimental elements as well. Save this as your Thanksgiving watch every time.

For the two of them to make it, they needed access to public transportation, which they were able to get, but with some difficulty. Sadly, not everyone has access to good, affordable public transportation. People who have low income or live in an urban setting often find themselves without the transportation they need to make a living. This needs to change. Whether it comes from a protest, social media, or word of mouth, we need to get the government to spend more money to fix this problem. If they can spend billions of dollars on things like missiles, they can spend enough money to fix this. I believe we can change this for the better if we all pitch in.

Finally, unrelated to this review, I want to give a special shoutout to the Lincoln Township Actors with Special Needs theater group. I had the privilege of attending their performance of Mamma Mia! this past weekend to support a family friend. This group gives meaning and purpose to the lives of adults with special needs. It was such a joyful, heartwarming, and uplifting experience watching these wonderful actors put out their very best onstage. I would encourage you to seek out and attend one of their future performances.