Planes, Trains and Automobiles

In 1987, John Hughes brought together the comedic geniuses Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.  Martin plays Neal Page, a man who wants to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving dinner. But a combination of bad weather, bad luck, and Kevin Bacon keep working against his best efforts. Enter Candy’s Del Griffith, a friendly but obtuse shower curtain salesman who is as clueless as he is sweet. What sounds like a minor inconvenience in 2019 is a huge setback in 1987, as a lack of internet, cell phones and mainstream use of credit cards keep Neal and Del from gaining any traction in the battle against time.  An odd couple buddy comedy ensues as we have man-on-man cuddling in beer-soaked sheets, near-death experiences to the tune of Mess Around, and heartfelt realizations of self-discovery and compassion.  Made for $30M, PT&A brought in $50M in the box office was received to positive critical acclaim as the film marked a departure for John Hughes from teen comedies. But does it hold up?  Listen as Jon, Colin and Brent try to make it back in time for turkey and see if the food, fun and family are worth the time spent on various mediums of transportation, or if they are better off grabbing some fast food alone and not wasting their time sitting with strangers and inhaling the fumes of flatulence, bad breath, and body odour.