Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy
Theatrical Release: 11/25/1987(USA)
Release Date: 11/21/2000
SubTitles: English
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 92 Minutes
Flags: Not For Children, Adult Humor, Profanity, Slapstick Violence
Distributor/Studio: Paramount
Were it not for its profanity-laden opening scenes,
John Hughes'
Planes, Trains and Automobiles might have been suitable
family entertainment: certainly it's heaps less violent and mean-spirited than
Hughes'
Home Alone. En route to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family, easily annoyed businessman
Neal Page (
Steve Martin) finds his first-class plane ticket has been demoted to coach, and he must share his flight with obnoxious salesman
Del Griffith (
John Candy). A sudden snowstorm in Chicago forces the plane to land in Wichita. Unable to find a room in any of the four-star hotels,
Neal is compelled to accept
Del's invitation to share his accommodations in a cheapo-sleazo motel. Driven to distraction by
Del's annoying personal habits, the ungrateful
Neal lets forth with a stream of verbal abuse. That's when
Del delivers the anticipated (but always welcome) "I don't judge, why should you?"-type speech so common to
John Hughes flicks. The shamefaced
Neal tries to make up to
Del, but there's a bumpy time ahead as the mismatched pair make their way back to Chicago, first in a balky train, then by way of a refrigerator truck. We know from the outset that the oil-and-water
Neal and
Del will be bosom companions by the end of
Planes, Trains and Automobiles, but it's still a fun ride. The best bit: a half-asleep
Del thinking that he's got his hand tucked between two pillows -- until his bedmate,
Neal, bellows "Those
aren't pillows!"
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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