As sort of a Johnny-Come-Lately to the John Hughes film catalog, I've been steadily trying to work my way through his movies. Some I've considered my all-time favorites (Home Alone & The Breakfast Club), while others (Uncle Buck & 16 Candles) I didn't really connect with. But the common theme in all of them was suburban/family life. Planes, Trains & Automobiles takes a much different approach, however, in that it is a more straightforward road-trip comedy. Unfortunately, the humor (and attempts at emotion) did not win me over.
For a very basic overview, this film sees uptight businessman Neal Page (Steve Martin) trying to get home to his family for Thanksgiving. Not only is he constantly thwarted by seemingly every mishap known to man, but he keeps crossing paths with Del Griffith (John Candy), a devil-may-care, slobbish shower-curtain salesman who lives life by the seat of his pants.
Obviously, the primary "hook" is 90 minutes of Candy & Martin together. Two comedy legends, without a doubt. But I didn't think they were used to full advantage here. I wanted to see more of Candy's physical comedy (it is difficult for me to take him seriously in any capacity) and more of Martin's rage--his profane scene with the rental car agent might have elicited the biggest laugh of the whole picture from me.
I also rarely found myself actually laughing at the jokes/situations. I knew why they were supposed to be funny, but rarely did they strike me that way in the moment. It really seemed like the broadest (or most obvious) sort of comedy possible.
Of course, I watched this movie for the first time in 2021--nearly 35 years after its initial theater run. Perhaps its brand of humor was fresh or pioneering in the late-80s. But at least for me, in that sense this film didn't "age well".
I know that Planes, Trains & Automobiles is considered an all-time comedy & road-trip classic, so my "take" will almost certainly be in the vast minority. But for whatever reason (or all the ones described above), I just didn't find it funny or endearing past the most basic levels of comedy or emotion.
For a very basic overview, this film sees uptight businessman Neal Page (Steve Martin) trying to get home to his family for Thanksgiving. Not only is he constantly thwarted by seemingly every mishap known to man, but he keeps crossing paths with Del Griffith (John Candy), a devil-may-care, slobbish shower-curtain salesman who lives life by the seat of his pants.
Obviously, the primary "hook" is 90 minutes of Candy & Martin together. Two comedy legends, without a doubt. But I didn't think they were used to full advantage here. I wanted to see more of Candy's physical comedy (it is difficult for me to take him seriously in any capacity) and more of Martin's rage--his profane scene with the rental car agent might have elicited the biggest laugh of the whole picture from me.
I also rarely found myself actually laughing at the jokes/situations. I knew why they were supposed to be funny, but rarely did they strike me that way in the moment. It really seemed like the broadest (or most obvious) sort of comedy possible.
Of course, I watched this movie for the first time in 2021--nearly 35 years after its initial theater run. Perhaps its brand of humor was fresh or pioneering in the late-80s. But at least for me, in that sense this film didn't "age well".
I know that Planes, Trains & Automobiles is considered an all-time comedy & road-trip classic, so my "take" will almost certainly be in the vast minority. But for whatever reason (or all the ones described above), I just didn't find it funny or endearing past the most basic levels of comedy or emotion.