Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Is there anyone who hasn’t seen the delightful buddy-classic Planes, Trains & Automobiles? If you haven’t, it’s probably because you’re very young and don’t think you can relate to a movie that doesn’t feature a single cell phone. Relax and rent this Thanksgiving movie. If you’ve ever traveled by any of the title transportations, it’s relatable.
Steve Martin and John Candy find themselves stuck traveling across the country together to get home for Thanksgiving. It’s hate-at-first-sight for Steve and he treats his traveling companion pretty badly, even though John never means to do any harm. That’s my only complaint about this movie, and really the only reason watching this movie isn’t an annual tradition. Steve Martin’s character is so mean! There’s a famous conversation between my mom and my brother my family frequently references: my mom was upset that a total stranger was mean to her, but she tried to cut the person some slack, in case he/she was having a bad day. “Would you treat someone that way if you were having a bad day?” my brother asked. Since the answer was obviously “no,” we’ve had a hard time cutting people slack for that reason ever since.
I have a hard time cutting Steve Martin’s character slack because he’s having a traveling nightmare. Yes, his meeting runs late, he literally falls on his face and loses a cab to Kevin Bacon, he’s seated next to the chatty John Candy on the airplane, a blizzard forces an early landing, he gets robbed, all the rental cars are taken, the train breaks down, and countless other accidents through the second half of the movie, but in my opinion, he wouldn’t take out his frustration on an innocent, friendly, well-intentioned man who has endured all the same traveling hiccups, if he was a nice person. I recently had to travel across the country for a wedding, and after many things went wrong, I ended up in tears but I didn’t insult anyone.
The good parts of the movie are the hilarious and realistic mishaps throughout the cross-country journey, and of course, John Candy. He’s lovable, sensitive, funny, and kind. He continually sees the best in mean people, inspiring charity in audience members’ hearts at the start of the holiday season. If you’ve never seen it, or if it’s been a few years, rent it this Thanksgiving. At the very least, you’ll be reminded to be grateful whenever your traveling plans go smoothly.
More Steve Martin movies here!
Steve Martin and John Candy find themselves stuck traveling across the country together to get home for Thanksgiving. It’s hate-at-first-sight for Steve and he treats his traveling companion pretty badly, even though John never means to do any harm. That’s my only complaint about this movie, and really the only reason watching this movie isn’t an annual tradition. Steve Martin’s character is so mean! There’s a famous conversation between my mom and my brother my family frequently references: my mom was upset that a total stranger was mean to her, but she tried to cut the person some slack, in case he/she was having a bad day. “Would you treat someone that way if you were having a bad day?” my brother asked. Since the answer was obviously “no,” we’ve had a hard time cutting people slack for that reason ever since.
I have a hard time cutting Steve Martin’s character slack because he’s having a traveling nightmare. Yes, his meeting runs late, he literally falls on his face and loses a cab to Kevin Bacon, he’s seated next to the chatty John Candy on the airplane, a blizzard forces an early landing, he gets robbed, all the rental cars are taken, the train breaks down, and countless other accidents through the second half of the movie, but in my opinion, he wouldn’t take out his frustration on an innocent, friendly, well-intentioned man who has endured all the same traveling hiccups, if he was a nice person. I recently had to travel across the country for a wedding, and after many things went wrong, I ended up in tears but I didn’t insult anyone.
The good parts of the movie are the hilarious and realistic mishaps throughout the cross-country journey, and of course, John Candy. He’s lovable, sensitive, funny, and kind. He continually sees the best in mean people, inspiring charity in audience members’ hearts at the start of the holiday season. If you’ve never seen it, or if it’s been a few years, rent it this Thanksgiving. At the very least, you’ll be reminded to be grateful whenever your traveling plans go smoothly.
More Steve Martin movies here!