Having seen only a few snippets of it here and there on TV, I decided to watch the entire film Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Steve Martin (Neal) and John Candy (Dell) are no less than the comic geniuses they are expected to be. The ultimate odd couple, they are stuck together in various uncomfortable sleeping situations and modes of transportation as Neal tries to get home to his family for Thanksgiving and is trapped by Dell's annoying presence. Although the dilemmas that arise are predictable in that too-many-coincidences-in-a-row kind of way, the comedy makes it worth watching.
Underneath the hilarity, though, there is a sentimental tone. Neal's wife and kids are waiting for him to come home, which is shown throughout, and they have an emotional reunion at the end. Also, Neal and Dell come to understand, and perhaps like, each other. It is refreshing to see this relationship develop between two strangers. Planes... is one of those movies I could watch over and over, mainly because the pillow scene will never stop being funny. Watch this movie if you like lighthearted, no surprises, feel-good comedy.
P.S. - Grace (Rooney's secretary) from Ferris Bueller makes an appearance as the clerk at the rental car agency. These two movies also have the same writer and director, John Hughes.
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One student last year made an argument that you should see FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF and then SHE'S HAVING A BABY and then PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES as a John Hughes trilogy as he looks to chart the development and maturity of males through the 80s. Ferris is in his late teens, in SHE'S HAVING A BABY you have Kevin Bacon's character in his 20s, and then the Steve Martin figure is in late 30s, early 40s. It's an interesting argument and both films are worth seeing. Plus, SHE'S HAVING A BABY uses a great Kate Bush song at one point.
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