Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Weekly Review #8 Thanksgiving Themed

Review of the Week:

Road Trip Gold

Happy Belated Thanksgiving everyone! While this review is past thanksgiving, it’s never too late to post it. For my first holiday review, I’ll be reviewing a comedy classic directed by the genius that is John Hughes: Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

            The film’s plot is nothing special, it’s your average road trip movie, something many people have seen before. But with someone like John Hughes as the director, it’s anything but average. Family man Neil Page (played by Steve Martin) is struggling to get back to his home in Chicago, along the way he meets an estranged fellow by the name of Del Griffith (played by the late John Candy). Through bad and worse, Neil and Del travel cross-country in order to get Neil home.

            This film’s greatest strength are the two leads, Steve Martin and John Candy have the most impeccable chemistry on screen. Most of their interactions are part of what make this a comedy classic, which is saying something considering this from the director of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. What sets this movie apart is the fact that the inner conflict between the two characters is resolved almost near the beginning of the film, this is something not many other movies like this do. With the inner conflict out of the way this makes for more interesting conversations, less time wasted and better comedic timing. The movie also hints at a revelation on one of the characters throughout. When the revelation is revealed along with the end scene, it makes for an emotionally satisfying conclusion.

So, when Thanksgiving comes around the corner, you should definitely pick this one up and watch it with the whole family, it makes for a greater experience.
      
                                                            Final Rating:

 

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is available on Blu-Ray and DVD for a reasonable price, at your local video store and should not be very hard to find. As for alternate movie recommendations, I first point you towards Due Date, it’s a more current road-trip movie starring Robert Downey Jr., and Zack Galifianakis, it may not be as good as PTA, it’s still entertaining regardless, lastly, I recommend checking out Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, it’s an iconic film, which makes it so memorable. That’s all for today feel free to check out the other reviews on this site and do let me know your thoughts on this film down below.

Until Next Time… Be Thankful for Others