Monday, May 03, 2010

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Planes, Trains and Automobiles stars Steve Martin and John Candy on a amusing adventure where basically every type of transportation fails on them. Directed by the late John Hughes, the film is another successful and classic directed by Mr. Hughes. Steve Martin plays Neal Page, a advertising executive, who is trying to get home to his family in Chicago during Thanksgiving. Neal meets John Candy’s character, Del Griffith a shower curtain ring salesman, when he tries to steal his cab. Then, at the airport Neal and Del run into each other again while waiting for the same flight. The flight however, is rerouted to Wichita, KS due to heavy snow in Chicago. Landing the flight is cancelled and Neal and Del are forced to find a place to sleep. They decided to find a room together for the night. The only room available, of course, is a one room with a queen-size bed. After tossing, turning and loud snoring, they finally wake up to find Del spooning Neal. After a quick jump out of the bed and some “man talk,” they head for breakfast where they find they have been robbed over night. They hitch a ride to Stubbville to the train station. The train breaks down and the passengers are forced off the train and find another mode of transportation. Del and Neal take a bus that gets them as far as St. Louis and part ways. Neal heads to the airport to rent a car and angrily throws away his rental agreement. He then runs into Del who has a car. While driving at night, Del almost kills himself and Neal by going the wrong way on the highway. Then Del ignites the passenger compartment on fire with a cigarette with Neal’s wallet, of course, in there. They finally get the fire out and head to yet another hotel. Neal uses his watch to get a room and because Del is not so lucky, he lets him stay with him. The next day they are pulled over for exceeding the speed limit, the vehicle is impounded and they have to find another transportation. Neal finally arrives in Chicago Thanksgiving Day and part ways with Del. Neal decides to head back to the station, finds Del and invites him for Thanksgiving Dinner.

1 comment:

Renee said...

aw! my dad used to love this movie. reminds me of him.