Planes, Trains and Automobiles poster

1987·92 min·Released

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

“What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey.”

Comedy

An irritable marketing executive, Neal Page, is heading home to Chicago for Thanksgiving when a number of delays force him to travel with a well meaning but overbearing shower curtain ring salesman, Del Griffith.

7.3(2,234 votes)

Popularity4

Videos

Paramount Movies Trailer

Cast & Crew

Steve Martin

Steve Martin

Neal Page

John Candy

John Candy

Del Griffith

Laila Robins

Laila Robins

Susan Page

Michael McKean

Michael McKean

State Trooper

Dylan Baker

Dylan Baker

Owen

Kevin Bacon

Kevin Bacon

Taxi Racer

Olivia Burnette

Olivia Burnette

Marti Page

Carol Bruce

Carol Bruce

Joy Page

Diana Douglas

Diana Douglas

Peg

Martin Ferrero

Martin Ferrero

Motel Clerk

Larry Hankin

Larry Hankin

Doobie

Richard Herd

Richard Herd

Walt

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John Chard

Written on 6/10/2019

How about those Bears? Planes, Trains and Automobiles is written, produced and directed by John Hughes. It stars Steve Martin and John Candy. Music is by Ira Newborn and cinematography by Donald Peterman. Marketing man Neal Page (Martin) is in a last ditch dash to get from New York to Chicago in time for the family Thanksgiving dinner. Unfortunately obstacles halt his every advancement, the biggest of which is the man who fate has decreed is his companion for the trip; Del Griffith (Candy), a larger than life shower ring salesman whose outlook on life is considerably different to Neal's. If you haven't seen it yet? Then what is your excuse? You owe it to yourself to let this wonderful film into your life. John Hughes pitches two of America's then biggest comedy stars together and puts them on a trip where everything that can go wrong, does! Cue chaos with the methods of transport in the title. Yet as funny as the mishaps are, and they are, with a number of events being things many of us can associate with, they would be nothing without the expert characterisations. Both as performed by a never better Martin and Candy, but also as written by Hughes. Neal Page is anal retentive, snobbish and cynicism in a suit, Del Griffith appears oafish, over talkative and comes bedecked in cheapo winter wear. As time, options and sanity start to ebb away, desperation takes a hold and a surprising co-dependency starts to form. Something that beautifully sets us up for a finale that is as touching as it is genuinely surprising. It has mature comedy characterisations for the grown ups and chaotic actions for the younger crowd. Perfect and it should be prescribed at least once a year for a pick me up. 9/10

r96sk

Written on 12/30/2020

Entertaining 1987 flick from John Hughes. <em>'Planes, Trains and Automobiles'</em> is an enjoyable watch, pure and simple. The pairing of Steve Martin and John Candy is a great one, with both holding their own and bringing a lot of humour to events. Away from those two, you also have interesting bit part roles for Kevin Bacon and Michael McKean. The plot is one that could've got repetitive, but the film keeps it interesting for the whole 93 minutes. I will say, not that it's an all that noteworthy thing, that it has more (overly?) dramatic moments than I was anticipating, especially at the end. I was expecting a flat-out comedy, but the additional heart fits in well enough. It's a film 100% worth watching, if only for the humour of the two leads; there are some funny gags in there.

Media

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | "Edelen's Braidwood Inn" Deleted Scene | Paramount Movies

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES | "Edelen's Braidwood Inn" Deleted Scene | Paramount Movies

"Airplane Food" Clip

"Airplane Food" Clip

35th Anniversary Spot

35th Anniversary Spot

Life Advice with Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Life Advice with Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Paramount Movies Trailer

Paramount Movies Trailer

Planes, Trains & Automobiles - Going the Wrong Way

Planes, Trains & Automobiles - Going the Wrong Way