Jump to content

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Harsin

By Harsin,
in Film, TV & Radio

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • Popular Post
Harsin

Harsin

Posted
  • Popular Post
Posted

How many other 'mukkers are fans of this film?

11U4a.jpg

For my money it is one of the greatest comedies of all time and easily the greatest film of John Hughes' career, In fact it is my joint favourite comedy of all time (the other being Blazing Saddles since I realise you were all dying to know).

It's mainly remembered for the 'Those aren't pillows!' scene, but the entire film is filled to the brim with incredible moments and career-best performances from both Steve Martin and the much-missed John Candy. Fun Fact: It would have gotten a PG-13 in the USA, but the car rental scene pushed it up to an R rating. Good on Hughes and company for sticking to their guns and keeping it in as it's one of the funniest scenes in the film and the lack of swearing throughout the rest of the running time only makes it funnier.

Candy manages to walk the fine-line of being lovable to the audience while allowing you to still empathise with Neal's frustrations and Martin might be playing an uptight and self-absorbed suit but you still sympathise with his quest to get home. If you want to see how easy such a concept could so easily go terribly wrong then just watch the terrible Due Date where they've taken the same concept except this time the Del substitute is an unlikable creepy weirdo and straight man is a self-satisfied abrasive arsehole.

I can watch all manner of supposed tear-jerking films and remain stony-faced, but the end of this film always gets me pretending there's something in my eye (even with Neal's demonic looking children).

http://www.myspace.com/video/todd/planes-trains-and-automobiles/26065689

17
Link to comment
Share on other sites
lordcookie

lordcookie

Posted
Posted

It is brilliant. I hadn't seen it in years and was worried about watching it again (for me John Hughes' films tend to date terribly) but it was just as funny and charming as it ever was. For me this is the type of film Judd Apatow wants to produce (a comedy with a sentimental streak) but often fails to. Hughes had the benefit of working with great comedians and with a script that was incredibly lean and efficient (the art of a great 90 minute film really has been lost these days).

5
Link to comment
Share on other sites
R0b

R0b

Posted
Posted

I love it to the degree I have it displayed on my mantlepiece. It's sublime and one of my favourite films. But I've found that, inexplicably, it doesn't click with everyone.

Ramone loves it too, iirc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Gabe

Gabe

Posted
Posted

Surely everybody wells-up at the end of this, don't they?

It's a great film. I think this is the kind of film lots of mainstream comedies want to be these days, not just Apatow ones. I can't really think of any that come close because they either lack the charm of the characters or the bonding we see develop, or don't have a brilliant reveal that you can guess about half-way through the film if you pick up on the right cues (I didn't on first viewing, and it was all the better for it).

And the timing and tone of the car-rental speech is impeccable and demonstrates just how good Martin was in his pomp and Candy plays that lovable pain that you can't stay angry because he has an almost child-like innocence to him.

Top, top film.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mr_woo

mr_woo

Posted
Posted

Del's apologetic podgy-mitted hat-fumbling is the worst part of it, of course. A sugary cringe of a signoff.

But that's Hughes.

I thought that was a fantastic moment even if it is sugary simply because John Candy does it so well and is so fucking loveable.

I really really miss John Candy, my favourite comedy screen actor ever. Watching comedies these days just makes me miss him more than ever :(

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
sandman

sandman

Posted
Posted

Along with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels this is my favourite comedy of all time. They really really dont make em like this anymore. Such a crying shame that comedy is all about anatomy and toilet humour nowadays - what happened to comedy movies?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Distinct muttering

Distinct muttering

Posted
Posted

Mark me down as my favourite comedy, and possibly even my favourite movie of all time (depending on my mood and what day you ask me)

For me the best scene is the one in the car that starts with John Candy doing the “mess around” in the car, and ending with them almost crashing headfirst into two trucks, Candy briefly as the devil, and then the car bursting into flames. The next scene of them driving along in the melted car and then getting pulled over from the cops “was I speeding? Because I am sorry, but my speedometer has melted so its very difficult to tell exactly how fast we are going” also cracks me up.

I think the sugary stuff though is what really makes it, and Candy (lol) plays it perfectly. You can see how annoying he is, but the character is full of good intentions and just wanting to be liked by everyone you can’t help but sympathise with him. Of course his lonely back-story that transpires through the film just emphasizes this.

Oh, and the fact it can easily double as a Christmas movie as well makes it double as good at that time of year! Love it!

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Transient Curse

Transient Curse

Posted
Posted

The going the wrong way scene is the best bit for me. Candy and Martin uniting for a moment against the "idiots" in the other car then the slow realisation that occurs is great.

I think there must be a badly edited version kicking around some of the TV channels, last time I saw it I was struck by how the car rental desk scene just seemed to appear from nowhere and the next scene didn't really follow on after. It must've been edited to omit the swearing.

I might have to track down a DVD to watch it properly.

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Distinct muttering

Distinct muttering

Posted
Posted

The going the wrong way scene is the best bit for me. Candy and Martin uniting for a moment against the "idiots" in the other car then the slow realisation that occurs is great.

I think there must be a badly edited version kicking around some of the TV channels, last time I saw it I was struck by how the car rental desk scene just seemed to appear from nowhere and the next scene didn't really follow on after. It must've been edited to omit the swearing.

I might have to track down a DVD to watch it properly.

The waving too them while doing the drinking from a bottle motions cracks me up everty time! :)

9d37d9_634516.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Harsin

Harsin

Posted
  • Author
Posted

From Roger Ebert's review.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20001112/REVIEWS08/11120301/1023/

One night a few years after "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" was released, I came upon John Candy (1950-1994) sitting all by himself in a hotel bar in New York, smoking and drinking, and we talked for a while. We were going to be on the same TV show the next day. He was depressed. People loved him, but he didn't seem to know that, or it wasn't enough. He was a sweet guy and nobody had a word to say against him, but he was down on himself. All he wanted to do was make people laugh, but sometimes he tried too hard, and he hated himself for doing that in some of his movies. I thought of Del. There is so much truth in the role that it transforms the whole movie. Hughes knew it, and captured it again in "Only the Lonely" (1991). And Steve Martin knew it, and played straight to it.

OED7v.gif

1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mr_woo

mr_woo

Posted
Posted

Only The Lonely is a really good film and is an underrated John Candy film as well. It's one where he plays a romantic lead and as well as some funny comedy it has some good drama acting as well from Candy. I must dig it out again, it's not a classic like Planes, Trains...... but still really good.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ork1927

Ork1927

Posted
Posted

My favourite comedy as well. Despite watching it a month ago, I'm going to have to watch it again today now.

Utter brilliance from start to finish and great to see so much love for it on here.

Candy is awesome in anything - I will admit (if needed) being a fan of Brewsters Millions & The Great Outdoors - nowhere near Planes class (especially the 2nd one) but still good stuff & Uncle Buck is superb as well. I can't see how that film would of worked at all with any other actor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 10 years later...
Down by Law

Down by Law

Posted
Posted

Yep. Can't wait for this. The film is obviously fabulous as is, but the idea of filling in the gaps - Del's black eye - Neil's wife jumping straight to affair insinuation - all those missing pieces from the trailer, never thought we would see these scenes, this is up there with Fire Walk With Me's The Missing Pieces in unseen footage for me.

2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. Use of this website is subject to our Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, and Guidelines.

  I accept