Film Review: Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

John Hughes helped redefine world’s Christmas film viewing habits with his script for Home Alone. Few years earlier he did the similar thing with another holiday – Thanksgiving Day, which was the setting of his 1987 comedy Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

The plot begins in New York City two days before Thanksgiving. Protagonist, played by Steve Martin, is Neal Page, advertising executive who gets increasingly anxious to return to Chicago and spend holidays with his family. His efforts are, however, thwarted by traffic jams, bad weather and similar circumstances that force him to take his voyage in extremely roundabout way. Further source of misery is Del Griffith (played by John Candy), travelling salesman who volunteers to serve as his guide and travelling companion, but whose obnoxious personal habits and tendency to make wrong choices put Neal’s patience to the test.

Hughes, who also wrote and produced film, had very simple basic concept – a man trying to return to family for holidays – and used it for the extremely effective combination of road film, comedy of manners, slapstick, “buddy buddy” story and even some light drama. Planes, Trains & Automobiles is well-paced film and has short running time, but it nevertheless allows audience to notice many of its qualities. That includes cinematography by Donald Peterman, which makes many scenes memorable, whether they take place in various outdoor locations or in various motels the two main characters are forced to spend their time in. Music score by Ira Newborn (with the main theme based on traditional cowboy song “Red River Valley”) was often named by critics as the worst aspect of the film, but it is actually quite adequate for the film.

The biggest asset of the film is, of course, the cast with two main roles played by two of the most talented comedians of their time. They, at first, look like typical comedy duo in which Steve Martin plays “straight man” and John Candy plays “wild” comic. Hughes’ script, however, paints actually more complex picture when it comes to characters and the gaps are filled by great actors. Martin plays his uptight, “normal” businessman as deeply frustrated person that have sacrificed a lot for the sake of career and his “normalcy” appear to be facade for the years of frustration that explode during his pre-holiday misadventures. It is Martin’s character whose anger, among other things, finds expression in “saucy” words that later created problems for Plains, Trains & Automobiles with censorship and deprived it of family-friendly status. Candy, on the other hand, plays character who is obnoxious but permanently cheerful, but whose outward persona hides deep personal pain. This is best presented in the scene in which Neal confronts Del by expressing his disgust with his personal habits and personality; Del listens to it with subtle hints that he is deeply hurt and does so in a way that even Neal can’t ignore it and ultimately feel bad about his rant. In most conventional “buddy buddy” comedies this scene would happen near the end, but in Planes, Trains & Automobiles it happens relatively early. This brings just a proper dose of seriousness in the film setting the stage for bittersweet finale which tuns more powerful.

Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving is a strictly American holiday and, as such, film didn’t have as much impact on international markets as Home Alone. Thankfully for Hughes and everyone concerned, Planes, Trains & Automobiles was released in time when US box office played much more important role in film’s financial success than it plays today. Film was success not among US public, but also among critics. Many of the viewers today, even those who care little about certain US holidays, would likely agree with such verdict.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/2609-planes-trains-and-automobiles
Critic: AA