Customer Reviews

Planes, Trains and Automobiles / Summer Rental / Foul Play (Triple Feature)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Three terrific comedies are packaged here from Paramount Studios.
First up: "Planes, Trains & Automobiles", writer-director John Hughes' exercise in incompatability and discomfort as two travelers--uptight ad exec Neal Page (Steve Martin) and obnoxious lovable slob/shower-ring curtain salesman Del Griffith (John Candy)--are thrown together through comic circumstances before Thanksgiving. Page wants nothing more than to get home for some turkey; instead, his travel plans are derailed at every turn, saddling him (and to his irritation, having to rely on him) with Griffith. There are some beautifully played-out comedy scenes, courtesy of Martin & Candy. But the real surprise is how they handle the more tense & frayed dramatic scenes. They learn as they go along to become better people, with Martin's character--repulsed, humiliated and rather snobbish--clashing with Candy's lower-class character, who's just yearning to be understood. A great holiday comedy about human nature and why "we can't all just get along".
"Summer Rental" tries to graduate up-and-coming comedy star Candy into a leading role. It's a pleasant but otherwise small-time, by-the-numbers comedy, obviously inspired by the success of "National Lampoon's Vacation" (which, coincidentally, Candy briefly appears). Playing a stressed-out air traffic controller, he packs up the family for a summertime excursion. Except it's anything but relaxing as Candy must suffer through all kinds of headaches--sunburns, lifeguards flirting with his teenage daughter, his beach house being a "main highway" for vacationers to get to an overcrowded beach, and clashes with a high-class jerk of a landlord, played wonderfully nasty by Richard Crenna. Halfway through the movie, Candy befriends a crusty but amiable old salt (the terrific Rip Torn) who runs a seafood restaurant (out of the remnants of his boat). Thus, a showdown between tenant & landlord is inevitable, with Candy using the old boat to challenge Crenna during a sailing competition. What is otherwise a routine comedy is brightened by Candy's likability as lead and given breezy direction by comedy veteran Carl Reiner.
"Foul Play" brings SNL alumni Chevy Chase to the big screen, wisely hitching his wagon to one of Hollywood's brightest stars, Goldie Hawn, for this irrevent comedy about a plot to assassinate the Pope during a San Francisco visit. This mystery-suspense-comedy manages to make a routine genre fun to watch as it introduces odd twists, weird characters and offbeat laughs. Hawn's character is a bright but sheltered librarian who becomes hopelessly entangled in the evil plan. Chase is the police detective who finds himself protecting Hawn while becoming romantically involved. Hawn is charming as a slightly ditzy but endearing damsel-in-distress; Chase make a good first impression, walking the fine line between sarcastic bumbler and leading man. Burgess Meredith is wonderful as Hawn's kindly landlord (watch for the highlight where he uses self-defense/karate to battle a baddie). But it's Dudley Moore that nearly steals the film (he launched his solo career with this movie) as loser/swinger Stanley, making every sporadic scene he appears in hilarious.
No extras are included with this package, but the films themselves are crisply transferred to DVD format. You just can't go wrong with this collection!

Always an awesome DVD! However, order took WAY TOO LONG to receive. THREE WEEKS! Read carefully, was shipped from Canada.

After 4 weeks never arrived. Refund was hardley acceptable because now selling for 2.5 times what I originally paid for. Smart work inetvideo.

I enjoy all three movies on this collection, but I especially bought the collection for SUMMER RENTAL and was thrilled that TRAINS, PLANES AND AUTOMOBILES was part of the collection and then remember the Goldie Hawn / Chevy Chase movie FOUL PLAY. What a delight.

Each movie is on it's own DVD which is a plus from the beginning.

All in all, this set is the cure for whatever ails you.

This movie package includes three comedy classics (3 separate DVD's) Planes,Trains,and Automobiles is a race for home on Thanksgiving Day with two of the best comedy actors (Steve Martin & John Candy), with roadblocks along their way.
Summer Rental is fun lighthearted comedy starring John Candy.
Foul Play stars Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn plus a dwarf and a pope. Comedy classic!

John Hughes' adult saga that mimics "The Out-of-Towners". Still, it has a warm hewar and will get you every time.

I have received these movies but haven't had a chance to take them out of the packaging yet. These two are great movies -- very funny. I especially like Foul Play with Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn.