“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” Yeah, you read that right. Three modes of transportation, and all of them are pure, chaotic misery. It’s a movie about two grown men having the absolute worst travel experience imaginable on their way home for Thanksgiving. You know what, though? For all the disaster and indignity, it’s somehow a bit of a comedy classic.
John Hughes, the guy who usually spent his time torturing Macaulay Culkin, struck comedy gold when he stuck Steve Martin and John Candy in a travel nightmare that makes modern-day Spirit Airlines look like a first-class experience. This movie’s got more heart than a cardiology convention and more laughs than watching your kids try to deep-fry their first turkey.
What We’re Working With
Let’s talk plot: Steve Martin plays Neal Page, a guy who is this close to snapping. He’s one of those respectable, Type-A ad men who would probably throttle a mime in an elevator if they were in his way with a stick so far up his rear he could be a human Popsicle. He just wants to get home for Thanksgiving, but thanks to some cosmic joke, he’s stuck with Del Griffith (played by John Candy) as his “travel buddy.” Del is, well, the opposite of Neal in every conceivable way: a loud, obnoxious shower ring salesman with a heart the size of a 1987 Buick, he is the human equivalent of a St. Bernard – big, slobbery, and impossible not to love despite the mess he leaves everywhere. Think of them as the original Odd Couple, but way less functional.
The chemistry between these two? Better than any romantic comedy I’ve seen in the last forty years. Martin plays the straight man like he’s got a PhD in exasperation, while Candy… oh, sweet lord, John Candy. He’s like that uncle who embarrasses you at every family function but somehow makes the whole gathering better just by being there. When he tells that story about his wife… if you don’t tear up, you’re probably dead inside.
From delayed flights and broken-down rental cars to snowy highways and rickety trains, this movie’s got it all. There’s not a single form of transport that doesn’t let them down, which is probably why half of us stick to our living rooms these days.
The Humor of Despair
Most comedies these days try too hard to be clever or make some deep point about society. Not this one. “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” embraces the raw chaos of human nature. It’s basically Murphy’s Law with a laugh track. Every single thing that can go wrong does, and by the end, you feel exhausted right along with Neal. You almost start believing in karma, even if you’re not sure what either of these poor saps did to deserve this kind of cosmic punishment.
You’ve got your classic slapstick: Neal and Del share a single bed in a dingy motel (and yes, they wake up in each other’s arms in a scene that probably gets people all riled up today for no reason). They nearly freeze to death in a rental car that turns into a smoking wreck. The real kicker? That iconic scene where Neal unleashes a 60-second, profanity-laden rant at a car rental clerk. If you don’t at least chuckle at that, well, you might be beyond help.
Plot:
Look, I love John Hughes, but let’s be real. The plot of this movie is thinner than a cheap motel towel. It’s basically just a series of increasingly disastrous events without much tying them together, other than the fact that Hughes decided to make life as hard as possible for these two. By the time you’ve watched them go from planes to trains to… burnt-up cars, you kind of get the point. Bad things happen to good people. We get it, Hughes.
The humor here comes from real places – the absolute hell of holiday travel, the misery of being stuck with a stranger who becomes harder to hate by the minute, and the special kind of rage that can only come from having your rental car burst into flames on the interstate.
That “those aren’t pillows” scene? Comedy perfection. The f-bomb rental car tirade? Should be taught in film schools. The way these two slowly go from wanting to kill each other to genuine friendship? Smoother than gravy on mashed potatoes.
Another thing—this movie’s dated. Yeah, yeah, it’s an ’80s classic, but half the stuff in here would give today’s crowd a heart attack. Neal smokes, Del’s travel hygiene is questionable at best, and half the jokes would probably get you canceled in a New York minute. But you know what? That’s what makes it great. It’s messy, unapologetic, and doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is: a bumpy, miserable road trip where two miserable people somehow find a reason to be grateful.
And let’s talk about that ending. No spoilers here, but it hits you in the feels harder than finding out the turkey’s still frozen on Thanksgiving morning. It’s the kind of ending that makes you want to hug somebody, even if that somebody is the annoying person who reclined their airplane seat into your kneecaps.
The movie’s got more quotable lines than my divorce papers and more truth about human nature than a year of therapy. It shows us that sometimes the biggest pain in your ass can turn out to be exactly the friend you needed. It’s like life giving you a wedgie and a warm hug at the same time.
Sure, some of the travel mishaps might seem quaint in our age of smartphones and Uber, but the core truth remains: holiday travel still sucks, strangers can still surprise you, and sometimes the best thanks we can give is just being there for somebody else.
Verdict:
So, here’s the thing: “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” isn’t exactly high art, but it’s real. It captures the aggravation of travel and the patience-testing insanity of human relationships like nothing else. For all the mess and nonsense, the movie somehow has a heart. And maybe that’s enough.
In the end, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” is like finding out your Thanksgiving turkey actually tastes good – a miracle that makes you believe in something bigger than yourself. It’s the kind of movie they just don’t make anymore, probably because nobody wants to watch two hours of people staring at their phones while waiting for a delayed flight.
So grab your rent-a-car papers, pack your patience, and prepare for the best damn Thanksgiving movie ever made. Just remember: you can’t rent a car with a shower curtain ring, no matter how well you make the pitch. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go make sure my underwear’s not stuck to my armpit. Get off my lawn, you gear-shifting pilgrims!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 shower curtain rings.
Cast
- Steve Martin as Neal Page
- John Candy as Del Griffith
- Kevin Bacon as Stu
- Edie McClurg as Ruth
5 Famous Quotes from “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles”
- “You know, I’m not a big city boy. I’m a small-town boy. I don’t know how to deal with all this hustle and bustle.” – Del Griffith
- “I’m not a bad guy. I just have a bad day.” – Neal Page
- “You know, I’m not a big fan of flying. I’m more of a bus guy.” – Del Griffith
- “I’m not going to let you ruin my Thanksgiving.” – Neal Page
- “You’re a good man, Del. You’re a very good man.” – Neal Page
5 Interesting Facts about “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles”
- The film was originally going to be called “Del and Neal”.
- The film was directed by John Hughes, who also directed other classic comedies such as “The Breakfast Club” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”.
- The film was a box office success, grossing over $100 million worldwide.
- The film was nominated for two Academy Awards, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (John Candy).
- The film has become a cult classic and is often ranked as one of the best comedies of all time.
Trailer: