Sika’s 100 Greatest Movies of All Time! 16. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
16. Planes, Trains & Automobiles [DVD]
Plot: All Neal Page (Steve Martin) wants to do is to get home for Thanksgiving. But since his flight has been cancelled due to bad weather, he has to look for other means of transport.
As well as bad luck, Neal is cursed with the presence of Del Griffith (John Candy), Shower Curtain Ring Salesman and all-around blabbermouth, who is never short of advice, conversation, bad jokes, or company. And he he is going the same direction as Neal..
What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey. (tagline)
Also Starring: Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Edie McClurg
Written and Directed by: John Hughes
Length: 93 min
Budget: N/A
Gross Revenue: $49,230,280 (USA)
My Favorite Movie Quote:
Neal: Those aren’t pillows!
Review: The fast food restaurants in Hollywood have really helped to produce a bunch of funny, fat comedians. And John Candy was the fattest of them all. Just like John Goodman and Swedish actor Rolf Lassgård he had a way of making “big” look good for some reason. Almost like a skinny version wouldn’t look as good, if you know what I mean?
Nerdiest Movie Trivia: Steve Martin was convinced to join the production after favoring two scenes he had read from the script; the seat adjustment-scene in the car, and the F-word tirade at the car rental desk. The Marathon Car Rental scene is exactly one minute long from the time Steve Martin starts his tirade, to the time the attendant ends the scene. In that 60 seconds, the word “fucking” is used 18 times.
And together with Steve Martin is when John Candy is at his best. The two complement each other and manages to both make me laugh (Those aren’t pillows!) and cry (My wife.. My wife likes me). And even though Hollywood has tried the road-movie concept many times since (Due Date for example) no movie has been able to reach the greatness that is Trains, Planes and Automobiles.
PREVIOUS ON THE LIST: 17. Stand by Me (1986)
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