Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987): A Holiday Classic
This movie never gets old.
What else could go wrong?
After a plane delay and severe traffic, Planes, Trains & Automobiles drove into theaters in 1987. Neal is in a bind to get home to Chicago for his Thanksgiving dinner. With the help of Del Griffith, a shower curtain salesman, their adventure home is a stressful adventure for the books.
For the last two years, I have watched Planes, Trains, & Automobiles on the big screen at the Cabot theater in Beverly as a night-before-Thanksgiving tradition. No matter how many times I have seen it, Planes, Trains & Automobiles never gets old and remains a heartwarming and hilarious classic about friendship and the chaos of travel.
Steve Martin and the late John Candy are the ultimate comedic team. Martin’s annoyed countenance blends splendidly with Candy’s oblivious enthusiasm. Both are remarkable in their performances and the growth of their friendship.
Neal is not the most open-minded person, but Del reminds him he must go with the flow. Neal’s 1-minute F-bomb episode at the car dealership is the film’s signature scene (out of several). It’s also the scene that made Martin sign on for the film.
One subtle moment that I noticed more this year was Neal starting a conversation with a woman on the train. His short meeting with Del already started making Neal more self-aware.
I miss the late John Candy. His performance as Del is one of his best. Del can chat your ear off for sure. Candy’s remarkable ‘real article’ speech is a heartwarming narrative. If you are happy with who you are, don’t listen to what other people think.
Neal and Del run into fascinating people on their travels. As I have said, there is no such thing as a small part. Some characters only have 1 minute of screen time, but make the best of it.
Dylan Baker (Owen) made up his whole part from the snorting, facial tics, and chewing tobacco. Fun Fact: Baker knew that Martin was an extreme germaphobe, causing Martin to scrub his hands clean for an hour after shaking Owen’s tobacco-pasted hand.
Edie McClurg (Car Rental Agent) improvised the phone conversation. And have you ever wondered what the man with mice crawling on his legs story was? In my friend’s first time seeing the movie on the big screen, he never noticed the mice before.
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles is a rollercoaster of laughs and poignant moments. John Hughes did a remarkable job in his direction. He wrote the script in one weekend. He crafted authentic characters, a tight narrative, and the chaos of traveling.
This was my second year watching the film on the big screen at Cabot. The 105-year-old theater was filled with laughter in every scene. Audience reaction is my favorite part of any movie, but this one was special. The audience consisted of movie fans and first-timers.
The epic wrong-way-highway scene and Neal’s F-Bomb tirade had the best reactions. One man audibly made funny comments about the duo’s situation that made the audience crack up laughing even more. That’s the greatest part about cinema. Movies bring people together in a time to laugh, reflect, and be together.
Planes, Trains & Automobiles is not just a holiday classic. It’s a cinematic masterpiece. Watching this movie has become a holiday tradition, especially for Steve Martin, who recalls the memories of working with his late friend.
Whether you're a first-time viewer or revisiting it for the umpteenth time, Planes, Trains, & Automobiles is a memorable holiday comedy. Thanks to the Cabot for a memorable evening and for creating a holiday movie tradition I look forward to returning to next year.
About the Creator
Marielle Sabbag
Writing has been my passion since I was 11 years old. I love creating stories from fiction, poetry, fanfiction. I enjoy writing movie reviews. I would love to become a creative writing teacher and leave the world inspiring minds.
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