Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

Thanksgiving truly is a wonderful time when it comes to family and friends. The chance to sit down and see those we love, enjoy an incredible meal and be thankful for the people in our lives makes for a wonderful weekend. It's a holiday that is truly about unity and family and well, let's be honest, mountains of turkey, and for the most part we leave the weekend feeling full and content.  

But there is a dark side to the holiday. No, not an awkward family member that perhaps has had too much to drink, that usually results in great stories we later tell our friends. No, the part that we don't discuss about Turkey Day is the travel portion of it. The rush to get to our destination and the hassle that can come with it and it is that darker side to Thanksgiving that is explored in hilarious detail in what is one of John Hughes' finest films... Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Neal Page has one simple goal on his mind for Thanksgiving, to get home and enjoy a quiet and lovely weekend with his family. But unfortunately for Neal, fate has other plans in mind for him. A terrible snow storm is keeping every single plane from landing in his hometown, forcing Neal to find a new way to get home, and whether he likes it or not, he will have an obnoxious companion named Del Griffith to help him along on his journey.  

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​So, how does such a simple plot earn its prestigious status as one of John Hughes' finest films? That's easy, by way of its characters. This is one of those rare films where the perfect cast is put into play, courtesy of Steve Martin and the late John Candy. Steve Martin is spot on as Neal, an anal retentive, no nonsense fellow who is always on his way from A to B and he is perfectly juxtaposed by John Candy's portrayal of Del Griffith. Del is a slob through and through, and one who lives in the moment without a plan, something that is evident when he decides it is upon him to get Neal home to his family.  

These two actors electrify the screen with perfect comedic timing and, some stunning performances. In fact, this goes down in my mind as John Candy's finest work. Simply because of how many layers Del Griffith manages to have in the film, especially when we learn the big secret about Del's life and the true motivation as to why he was so intent on Neal spending time with his family. That beautiful and tragic reveal changes the feel of the film entirely, suddenly taking it from hilarious comedy to touching family film that speaks to how important it is to spend every moment with those we love.  

It's a magnificent film really, and one that requires multiple viewings to say the least. In part to catch the jokes you've already missed from laughing so hard, and because this is just a wonderful film through and through that gets better with every single viewing because we can relate to so much on screen. We've all had our flights cancelled, dealt with screw ups or been on the road in places we have never wanted to be in order to get home to our family. See this one if you haven't and if you have watch it again, preferably with those you love as a reminder of just how lucky we are to have them in our lives.  

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