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List Price: $12.98 | | Label: Paramount
Salesrank: 1448
Released: November 21, 2000 |
| Our Price: $6.68 |
| Used Price: $2.99 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
No Description Available.
Genre: Feature Film-Comedy
Rating: R
Release Date: 8-JAN-2002
Media Type: DVD
Description of Planes, Trains and Automobiles:
Given the presence of both Steve Martin and John Candy, one would expect this John Hughes comedy to be much, much funnier than it is. Certainly it's not for lack of effort on the part of its stars. Martin is an uptight businessman trying to get home from New York for the holidays. But one thing after another gets in his way--most of it having to do with Candy, a boorish but well-meaning boob who takes a liking to him. Together they travel all over the map; no matter how hard Martin tries to shake him, he can't. But Hughes's writing is never as sharp as it should be and this film winds up being only intermittently humorous. --Marshall Fine
Planes, Trains and Automobiles Reviews:
Planes, Trains & Automobiles 
2008-10-12 - Can't go wrong with a Steve Martin and John Candy team. This is one of my favorite John Candy movies.
Quality of DVD was very good; no scratches, hesitations in play. DVD case in great condition.
Cute holiday fare and plenty of laughs
2008-08-19 - Okay, it doesn't matter when you watch this; it's still funny. You might like it better, though, around Thanksgiving. Steve Martin and John Candy play unlikely fellow travelers when a series of mishaps force them together via various modes of transportation, hence the title.
I could have lived without the cheesy synth music at a few points during the film, but other than that, it is humorous and filled with one disaster after another.
Be forewarned that there are several uses of the F bomb between Martin and Edie McClurg. Otherwise, okay for those old enough to handle it.
Doin' The Mess Around!
2008-07-07 - For my money it just doesn't get any funnier than watching John Candy play the piano on the dashboard as he flies down the highway. What a great scene from a great comedy. Steve Martin and John Candy are perfect together... one is a serious business minded family man (Martin) and the other is a fun loving everyday man who lives his life on the road (Candy). Circumstances happen to put these two together as they try to make it back home for Thanksgiving after being snowed in. I'm sure you all know the plot and have seen the movie, yet it's worth another look. This is a movie that can always put a smile to your face and it is one of John Candy's greatest roles. He shines in this movie and makes you wish he was still alive and doing The Mess Around for us. 5 stars all the way. One of the best at making you laugh.
High class movie 
2008-06-03 - Like other reviewers have said the Amazon review of this film is at best misleading. All films are subjective, but this is much better than their reviewer makes out IMO. Its consistently funny, with Steve Martin delivering one of his best performances. Indeed without Martin it would have been merely an average film. He takes it to another level. This is not to say that John Candy is bad, he isn't, but Steve Martin is the reason to see the film.
Essentially its a string of comedic set pieces, the train, the Motel, the car etc. Each of these have great moments, perhaps none better than the Motel where they find they have to share a bed. Theres also a lovely joke in the back of a flat bed truck with a dog in very cold weather.
My only criticism is the 80's music, which to fair I didn't like in the 80's! This has dated badly now. I also have mixed feelings about the ending as well. A little bit too soppy for my liking.
Overall though a fine movie with excellent performances, many laugh out loud moments, and a film that you can watch many times without being bored by it (mainly because of Steve Martin).
It is ironic that the best movie that John Hughes made wasn't a teen movie
2008-03-17 - 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. It would be interesting to see how Candy's performance would be regarded if the film came out today.
The ending, whew!, it's a rough one. And again, despite all the wonderful comedy in this film, whenever I think of "PT & A" I think of the wonderful character of Del Griffith and the powerful ending. If you haven't seen this movie, rent it. I strongly recommend it as a first rate comedy that doesn't come along often. Whether it's the music capturing the perfect mood in the hilarious bedroom scene or meeting Owen, it's an earnestly frantic and tender trip through the modern transportation system.
