Review: Planes,Trains and Automobiles

Paramount Pictures

We have all experienced it one way or another. At one time or another, we all have encountered the peppy, blissfully ignorant individual that just won’t go away or shut up. Maybe we have even been this person. On the other side of this situation is the individual who just can’t take it causing them to turn into the uptight, prick. Planes, Trains and Automobiles takes this situation with these two types of people and takes it up a notch by adding in the craziness of holiday traveling. With its great comedic characters and casting, Planes, Trains and Automobiles has with stood the test of time becoming a highly enjoyable, holiday classic.                

Paramount Pictures

With Thanksgiving just a couple days away, Neal Page (Steve Martin) is in New York City on a business trip. His goal is to get back to his home in Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. With a plane ticket in hand it looks like he is well on his way to making it back in time but then his cab to the airport is taken. Able to run down the cab, he opens the door to find Del Griffith (John Candy). In this moment, a mustached Candy gives a startled look that is absolutely priceless. It is here that it is realized that Neal’s journey back to Chicago will not go as planned as Del will now be a major part of it.

With both Neal and Del, I cannot imagine anyone other than Martin and Candy filling these roles. Both Martin’s and Candy’s comedic styles match these two characters to a tee. It is these two characters that make for such a memorable film. Neal quickly becomes fed up with Del and is not afraid to let him know this. This frequent occurrence is filled with sarcasm and put downs that are at times just down right mean. What I like most about this character though is that there is more to him than just these outbursts. Every insult is matched with guilt and moments where we see Neal having the chance to get away from Del but decides to help him instead. With this type of compassion, Neal is not just a Jerk which makes him a likable character.

The heavy weight humor of the film comes in the form of Del Griffith.  Del is seen by Neal as the most annoying idiot on the face of the earth. The fact that he never changes even with Neal constantly expressing his distaste for him is not only humorous but admirable. Like Neal does to Del, Del gets his shots in at Neal with insults like “Larry Bird doesn't do as much ball-handling in one night as you do in an hour!” His career as a shower curtain ring salesmen is equally humorous as the audience sees him in action, successfully selling his rings as ear rings. Its little things like this that makes an already solid comedic character even stronger.

In a film like this, the plot cannot be examined too closely. If the plot is focused on, logic will not be found which will take away from what the film is really putting on display which is its characters and the comedic situations they get into together. It has been twenty five years since its release but Planes, Trains and Automobiles is still relevant in regards to its comedic characteristics which makes it not only a film you can enjoy as comedy but also a holiday classic. Due to its strong comedic characters and outrageous situations along with passing the test of time, Planes, Trains and Automobiles not only works well as a comedy but excels.   

Grade: A-