Monthly Classic Movie Review

It's nearing the holidays. Lots of good holiday movies to choose from. Next month's classic movie review is already selected. I am looking forward to that one. This month, the turkey's on the table and the hand's between two pillows! This month's review is dedicated to one of the funniest comedies, and certainly one of the very best holiday movies ever: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. This is just too good a movie. It follows Mr. Neal Page(Steve Martin), in a desperate attempt to return home for Thanksgiving with his family, and getting a flight out of the big city during the holidays is about as easy as playing Pick-Up-Sticks with your butt cheeks! Along the way, his taxi is taken by a big lug, they share a quick face to face, and then the taxi drives away. After finally landing a flight, Neal finds he is on the same plane as the man who stole his cab! Hijinks ensue, and the two go on a cross-country trek in, you guessed it, planes, trains and automobiles. Neal's unwanted partner in crime is Del Griffith, played to immortal perfection by the late, very great John Candy, in his most memorable performance aside from Uncle Buck. Whereas Uncle Buck is more of a timeless character, Del Griffith is the perfect blend of comedic performance and dramatic acting. He's a loveable oaf who causes most of his own problems, but has such a tender heart that you can't help but love him. Neal realizes he is stuck with this guy, as much as he hates to admit it, for the duration of the wild goose chase to get home. Their auto experience includes a backwoods dufus and his strong-as-a-bull wife, whose first baby come out sideways; a rental car that gets sandwiched between two semis in a nighttime drive, and subsequently charred to a crisp. But oddly enough, the radio still works. It's clear as a bell, don't ask me how! The train they board only goes so far before breaking down. The planes take them to small, out of the way towns and small airports. The greatest scene of this film is the infamous hotel room, where the two men find themselves rudely awakened by a slight "mixup". Neal- "Why did you kiss my ear?" Del- "Why are you holding my hand?" Neal- "Where's your other hand?" Del- "Between two pillows." Neal- "THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS!!!!!!" Just you try not to split your sides!
This movie is rated R, because of only one scene. Neal finally reaches the breaking point when the clerk at the rental car desk is too busy with her phone conversation to pay attention to him. In his tirade, he utters the "F" word approximately 19 times. In the "edited for television" version, the scene was filmed again, without the "F" words. Other than that, this film is barely enough to earn a PG-13, so don't let the rating turn you away. This film is an absolute gem that is perfect for the holidays. It is similar to Home Alone, in that someone is trying to get home during the holidays and hitting every type of snag along the way. Both Films were made by John Hughes, who has made some of the cinema's finest films.
This film comes to a wonderful end that will warm your heart and make the journey all worth while. It makes you want to be with family and celebrate togetherness and give thanks. It works on so many levels.
With great characters, note perfect performances, brilliant dialog, and some of the funniest scenes in any comedy, this film has Steve Martin and John Candy in their best form!