Planes, Trains and Automobiles

If you think you’ve just hit rock bottom, second guess; it can get worse - you can fall through that bottom. Even though it’s just a phase, you can imagine falling through it. That’s exactly how Neal Page, portrayed by legendary, gray haired Steve Martin, felt throughout the movie. All the way. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

It’s Thanksgiving Day. As a caring family man, Neil wants to spend it with his beloved ones in Chicago. But there are some things you simply cannot predict. A long trip from New York to Chicago was one of them. From the very beginning you could rightly dub it an “impending doom trip”.

A trip from New York to Chicago, supposed to be a 1 hour and 45 minute trip turned into a three day adventure. Unforgettable. It wouldn’t be fair to let him go through it all alone. The moment he bumped into Del Griffith (John Candy), a shower curtain ring salesman who snatched the taxi cab Neil hailed for himself, before his eyes, his destiny was written.

And the destiny paper had a few lines about Neil pairing up with Del. So be it? Yes. They eventually teamed up and started an adventure of trying to get Neil back home. The two are totally different; Neil’s self-centeredness easily surfaces while Del’s good heartedness is easily swept away by Neil’s pretentiousness. Plus, I can’t say that everything went as planned for Neil. Well, nothing did, actually. All transportation means failed them - the flight was diverted to Wichita, the car vanished in flames.

It’s hard to find as brilliant comedy these days. Every single line, every single shot was laughable. Overall, it’s something that all of us can experience. Steve Martin was splendid as usual - the pent up anger he had to deal with portraying Neil Page was so vivid. It felt like someone’s real life was playing on television.

Was Neil uptight to the very end? How did the two men find their mutual language and move the barriers between them? What made Neil soften his heart?

This movie is a real gem, classic. Made in 1987 it only proves that good things last, no matter how old they are.

Neal: As much fun as I've had on this little journey, I'm sure one day I'll look back on it and laugh.
Del: [giggles] Are you sure?
Neal: [starts chuckling] Oh God. I'm laughing already.