Planes, Trains and Automobiles **** (1987, Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Dylan Baker) – Classic Movie Review 4594

Writer-director John Hughes’s classy 1987 holiday road movie comedy memorably pairs Steve Martin with John Candy.

Martin stars as straightlaced advertising marketing executive Neal Page, struggling to speed home for Thanksgiving, who finds he cannot shake off a boorish, chubby fellow traveller, obnoxious shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith (Candy). They end up sharing a three-day odyssey of farcical misadventures as Neal battles to get home to Chicago from New York City in time for Thanksgiving with his family.

The very funny movie plays out in an often warm-hearted series of slapstick scenes. This updated Laurel and Hardy-style comedy was a deservedly big hit for writer-director Hughes, and it did wonders for the stars’ careers back then.

As usual though with Hughes, one extra draft would have improved the screenplay no end by cutting the odd, misfiring gags and the slushy ending. But it is still a hilarious, mostly well judged movie that pretty near hits the comic bull’s eye.

Also in the cast are Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Dylan Baker, William Windom, Carol Bruce, Olivia Burnette, Diana Douglas, Larry Hankin, Richard Herd, Susan Kellermann and Edie McClurg.

It runs 93 minutes but the cut version runs 88 minutes.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4594

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