Planes, Trains and Automobiles

4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (524 customer reviews)
Neal Page is an advertising executive who just wants to fly home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. But all Neal Page gets is misery. Misery named Del Griffith -- a loud mouthed, but nevertheless lovable, salesman who leads Neal on a cross-country, wild goose chase that keeps ... Neal from tasting his turkey.
  • Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy
  • Directed by: John Hughes
  • Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
  • Release year: 1987
  • Studio: Paramount
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Planes, Trains and Automobiles

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Those Aren't Pillows Edition)
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Product Details
Synopsis: Neal Page is an advertising executive who just wants to fly home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. But all Neal Page gets is misery. Misery named Del Griffith -- a loud mouthed, but nevertheless lovable, salesman who leads Neal on a cross-country, wild goose chase that keeps Neal from tasting his turkey.
Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy
Supporting actors: Laila Robins, William Windom, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Dylan Baker, Carol Bruce, Olivia Burnette, Diana Douglas
Directed by: John Hughes
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Runtime: 1 hour 33 minutes
Captions and Subtitles: Details
Release year: 1987
Studio: Paramount
ASIN: B002S30PS4
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Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details
Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)

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Theatrical Release Information
  • US Theatrical Release Date: November 25, 1987
  • Production Company: Paramount Pictures, Hughes Entertainment
  • Filming Locations: Batavia, New York, USA | Braidwood, Illinois, USA | Chicago, Illinois, USA | Coal City, Illinois, USA | El Rancho Motel - 36355 N. US Hwy 41, Gurnee, Illinois, USA

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Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
(524)
4.6 out of 5 stars
See all 524 customer reviews
“ This movie is very, very funny. ” Ernest Jagger  |  119 reviewers made a similar statement
“ It's a tradition every year to watch this movie at Thanksgiving. ” Cheryl A. Zimmerman  |  102 reviewers made a similar statement
“ Everything that can go wrong does. ” Jenny J.J.I.  |  84 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
100 of 102 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars It is ironic that the best movie that John Hughes made wasn't a teen movie March 17, 2008
By Jenny J.J.I. VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
When I think of "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" I smile. It is an absolutely wonderful movie. Yes, it is regarded as a comedy but when I think of it I think of it as more of a drama. The jokes don't get old. This is probably my favorite comedy of all time. Hughes takes the traveling nightmare genre to a whole new level. It's more a triumph in script writing than anything

For those who don't already know Planes, Trains and Automobiles is simple in its approach. Everything that can go wrong does. It's a comic routine that can be funny, but here it is a trip to hysterical. The plot is simple enough as well. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is on his way home for Thanksgiving. He's your typical businessman that works in New York and has a family he wants to see in Chicago. The only problem is everything from delayed flights to ripped up car tickets happen on the way. Only worsening matters, Del Griffith (John Candy), is along for the ride. An annoying shower curtain ring salesman, Neal can't get rid of him no matter how hard he tries.

John Candy gives the performance of his too short career as the traveling shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith. What makes Candy's performance so impressive is that while Del is an obnoxious, annoying slob, Candy shows that this is a very lonely, sweet, kind, and caring man with a great heart. This is a man who is putting his needs behind the needs of another person, a complete stranger in Neil Page. Candy creates an incredibly complex man, who the audience really gets to know and genuinely care about. They say comedies are the hardest films to get nominated for Oscars, which is true. And while "PT & A" is no Best Picture winner, it certainly in my mind has a performance not just worthy of a nomination but of an Oscar as well.... Read more ›
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79 of 83 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars You'll be doin' the Mess Around 'cause THOSE AREN'T PILLOWS! August 3, 2000
By Lee Barnes
Format:VHS Tape
A stellar performance from Steve Martin and the late, great John Candy.

I don't know where that guys doing the Editorial Reviews are coming from, this movie is great!

Steve Martin is stuffy ad executive Neil "I can take anything" Page and John Candy is the bungling but warm-hearted shower-curtain-ring guy (I know what you mean), Del "Extra set of fingers" Griffith. We follow this mismatched pair half way across the States and back again as they encounter one crisis after another. As the title says, our heros travel whatever way they can to get to Chicago- from planes to trains to cars.

One of the funniest scenes is when after Del gets his coat caught behind the driver's seat, panics and sends the car on a tailspin causing him to go the wrong way down the Interstate. We see their car get caught between two semis. During the squeeze, Neil looks and sees Del as the Devil, complete with pitchfork and horns.

In all, this movie is great! You will not be disappointed, that I can promise you because it's "filled with helium, which makes it 10% lighter."

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64 of 67 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Here's what's on it August 18, 2009
By P. Smith
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
For those of you thinking about buying this new DVD version, here are the extras on it: 3 featurettes ("Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes Trains and Automobiles", "John Hughes for Adults", "John Candy"), and a deleted scene ("Airplane Food").

Not bad, but would have liked to see more deleted scenes since apparently Hughes had a 3 hour version of this movie. Maybe those will come out eventually.
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank God This Film Exists!! February 2, 1999
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
We are blessed to have not only a film but a great film combining the talents of veteran comics Steve Martin and the late John Candy. Far superior to most films of its type, "Planes" has wit, warmth and heart. The plot is simple - Suave ad man Neal (Martin) tries to get home for thanksgiving with his family but encounters frustration at at every turn. To top this off, fate decrees that he spend most of his travel time with well-intentioned but eternally irritating Del (Candy). Candy and Martin seem made for their roles. Candy is perfect as never-ending talker and shower-curtain ring salesman Del (we've all met him!) and Martin is solid as the serious ad-man. Film is full of hilarious moments - Candy and Martin watching their final mode of transport (a car) literally going up in smoke; waking up snuggled up against each other on their first night (one bed in the last room in the last hotel complex) and freezing together on the back of an open truck - but also its tender moments displaying Del's vulnerability. I noted that film critic Leonard Maltin criticised the awful music score, but to me, this is representative of the tone of the entire trip. Film doesn't deserve the R rating I see that it has, despite the the notorious bad language scene. To me, this film exemplifies what quality family entertainment is all about - friendship prevaling against the odds and identifiable characters. John Hughes once again has his finger on the pulse as to what a mainstream audience will enjoy and this film is a credit to him and the stars. See it!
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-See for Comedy Lovers! November 15, 2000
By Eric J. Hughes
Format:DVD
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is THE funniest movie I have ever seen. It combines two comedy greats, Steve Martin and John Candy together, on a roadtrip to get home for christmas.

What happens is Steve martin, a buisness from Chicago, needs to get home for christmas. Not only is his flight cancelled, train wrecked, and car not in the rent-a-car parking spot, he meet John Candy. In this movie Candy plays an extremely nice guy that can't keep his mouth closed. On the other hand, Martin plays a quiet-type person that can get annoyed very easily.

As you can see, they could never travel together....

....or could they?

This movie brings out a real common bond or friendship that can form between two absolute strangers that have absolutely nothing in common.

Planes, Trains, and Autos has comedy written everywhere. Jokes, pranks, and all sorts of fun are performed well in the movie. I recommend this movie to anyone that wants to laugh!! Honestly folks, this movie is the best and should really be recognized. I guarantee you will love it!

Thanks for reading my review and have a nice day!

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