Planes, Trains and Automobiles Planes, Trains and Automobiles
1987 Directed by John Hughes
Synopsis
Pack in the Laughter!
Think you've had a bad day? At every turn, marketing exec Neal Page's plans to get home to his family for Thanksgiving get foiled, and somehow the loudmouthed, idiosyncratic fellow traveler Del Griffith is always right next to him driving him nuts.
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I really hate this film.....
BECAUSE EVERY TIME I SEE IT, IT MAKES ME SO HAPPY AND THEN I WANT TO DANCE, BOOGIE WOOGIE, DO SOMERSAULTS AND BACKFLIPS, POP AND LOCK AND EVEN A TWIRL AND A FAME JUMP OR TWO BUT I CAN'T BECAUSE I'M BUILT LIKE AN ELEPHANT AND HAVE THE MOTOR SKILLS OF A PREGNANT HIPPO!!!!
And I really, really miss John Candy....
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According to Steve Martin himself the best movie he ever starred in and a statement I whole-heartedly agree with. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is one of those rare moments in cinema in which everything seems to come together to form one of the finest hours of comedy to date and without a doubt one of the finest comedies of the 80s. John Hughes' output was already highly regarded at that point, but up until this film he focused solely on teenage audiences. The delightful result of him stepping out of his comfort zone is 93 minutes of hilarity and heartfelt characterization as we follow Steve Martin and John Candy on their trip across half of America. Martin playing the jaded…
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"THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS!"
Everything about this is just flawless. Don't ask me how, it just is. You've the two fantastic characters, the now-iconic comic set pieces, unbelievably hilarious and instantly quotable dialogue, one of the most heartwarming endings ever and His Holiness John Candy. I've seen this probably about 50 times now and it never fails to make me smile. A lot.
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June Challenge Film #22
"If I wanted a joke, I would follow you into the john and watch you take a leak"
Planes, Train and Automobiles is a wonderful film, a fantastically funny film, a smart film, but also in play is the heartbreaking truth of Del Griffith and why he hasn't been home in years. I have no idea how many times i have seen P, T and A, but one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I have gotten emotional 100 percent of the time during the final sequence of the film.
A lot of comedies are funny, but not every one has the heart of this John Hughes film.
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John Hughes is a genius. From start to finish this movie is hilarious. This film really captures how it would be like to be stuck with an annoying person. Also Steve Martin's character is great in this. As is John Candy. I love the scene when John Candy's character is driving and first his coat gets stuck then he starts driving the wrong way and to top it all off the car catches on fire. There are some great little moments too. Like crashing into a motel. The script is very well written. Also it is well acted. It really makes the audience feel for Steve Martin's character and want him to make it home. This is a very enjoyable movie that I plan to watch again soon. Absolutely worth a watch.
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I’m serious when I say john candy should've got an Oscar for his role in this perfect movie...I’m sorry I just love this film.
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Over twenty years on and this still manages to make me both laugh and cry. I can go years without seeing it and always forget it's not just a comedy but has a real sensitive undertone that always knocks me for six. Knock out performances by both Martin and Candy make this an all time classic and rightly so.
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It is criminal that I've never seen it. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is hilarious. I've never been a fan of either actor but both are fantastic here and completely make what would normally be a tired and formulaic plot.
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June Challenge Film #22
"If I wanted a joke, I would follow you into the john and watch you take a leak"
Planes, Train and Automobiles is a wonderful film, a fantastically funny film, a smart film, but also in play is the heartbreaking truth of Del Griffith and why he hasn't been home in years. I have no idea how many times i have seen P, T and A, but one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that I have gotten emotional 100 percent of the time during the final sequence of the film.
A lot of comedies are funny, but not every one has the heart of this John Hughes film.
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I remember first watching this as a kid and loving the part where Steve Martin swears because I was still in that "He said a bad word" stage, which quickly evaporated. I loved this movie then and I still love it now. John Candy's speech at the end always brings a tear to my eye. Rest in peace, big guy
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Cool icy lemonade with Steve Martin. Good for chillin' out.
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I decided to do a bit of research after watching this film and found many, many critical comparisons between John Hughes' 1987 comedy classic and Todd Phillips' 2010 comedy Due Date. And, sure, there are similarities. But after viewing both films, it is clear that Hughes wins on all counts. Whatever Due Date does wrong, Planes, Trains and Automobiles does right. Whatever Due Date does right, Planes, Trains and Automobiles does better. And it can all be boiled down to one very simple reason: Planes, Trains and Automobiles has heart.
The John Hughes comedy is typical John Hughes fare. It is very funny, but definitely geared towards adults ("You can start by wiping that fucking dumb-ass smile off your rosy…
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PTA is truly a masterpiece. I really wonder how I managed to let it go for such a long time, considering that John Candy and John Hughes are in it. Steve Martin performance is great, but John Candy is actually adorable as the joyful, sometimes annoying, shower rings seller that is a smart alter-ego of himself.
Under the disguise of a stylish 80's comedy, there is a story and evolution of a character that really moved me. The ending is perfect and makes you think if you want to be like Martin's character (at least in the first half of the film) or Candy's one. Because that's life, we are lonely souls in this planet and we can choose to please the others or to get them leave you alone. -
One of the few instances where Steve Martin isn't an obnoxious jerk, intentionally or otherwise, but even in a starring turn, he's not a patch on the majestic John Candy. That final frozen image of Candy's warm smile is a fitting memory of the late, great man.
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Imagine John Candy was still alive and would be making the kind of movies Bill Murray is doing these days. Wouldn't that be amazing?
This movie is absolutely perfect and still a childhood favourite of mine. Both characters are victims of the circumstances and while you emphasize with Steve Martin's Neal Page at first, John Candy's Del Griffith isn't such a bad guy. Sometimes things just go wrong.
This also draws a scary picture of most of the comedies today when you compare it to the quasi-remake "Due Date" (2010). Why is does everything need to be so mean spirited and cynical these days? The only thing cynical about the original is Neal Page. Everything else is just heartwarming.