cricketbat Planes, Trains and Automobiles is, without a doubt, the best odd-couple cross-country-trip Thanksgiving-themed movie around. Steve Martin and John Candy work very well as a comedic duo and they help create a story that is both hilariously ridiculous and heartwarmingly touching. This is a must-see film.

Raven-1969 A simple plan to fly from New York to Chicago for Thanksgiving goes horribly awry for business executive Neal Page. He is delayed by a pointless meeting, impeded by heavy holiday traffic, conned by a sly New Yorker and even his waiting cab is stolen, all before he reaches the airport. Bumped from a hard-earned first-class seat on a postponed flight, Neal finds himself face to face with the man who stole his cab, shower curtain salesman Del Griffith. This is just the beginning of the nightmare for both men, opposites in every respect, as their flight is forced to land in Wichita. The unlikely travel companions suffer repeated indignities and troubles trying to return to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving, and they are pressed to rely on as well as confront each other. The result is equal parts disastrous, hilarious and enlightening. Thirty years after the release of Planes, Trains & Automobiles and I still quote from and laugh at memorable scenes; the waving of stinky socks on the plane, mistaking worn underwear for a washcloth, driving the wrong way on the highway and waking up with a hand between two pillows. Steve Martin (Neal) and John Candy (Del) are perfectly cast. The actors are not only naturals for the characters, they work so well together. They are like a finely tuned machine.It is intriguing and funny enough that a noisy, restless and annoying blabbermouth and slob is stuck in the same seedy hotel room as a selfish, hostile and intolerant businessman, yet John Hughes takes it a step farther. There are lessons in human nature, honesty, letting go, non-judgment, vulnerability, kindness, decency, holiday spirit and more. This story, written and directed by Hughes, really resonates in our hearts because of this extra depth. We understand, as Del and Neal ultimately do, that "all the time we spend trying to get back what's taken from us, more is going out the door." Gobble, Gobble!

joelovesbabs This movie truly is a holiday classic; the movie has not aged one bit. Martin and candy are just perfect together under sure-footed direction by the late great John Hughes. There is no doubt this film will always rank high within its stars' and director's filmography; even the score by Ira Newborn fits the movie perfectly, for all the slapstick and tender and warm moments.

John Brooks Steve Martin. John Candy. John Hugues (Ferris Bueller, Home Alone, the Breakfast Club...). And a heart-warming, morality-conveying, guilt-inducing type comedy between two guys whose path just constantly crosses by coincidence when really one can't stand the other, taking place during Thanksgiving. Perfect recipe for an American success on paper, and you see exactly where I'm going with this. The film overall makes for a smooth enjoyable viewing, but at no point is it particularly funny, particularly subtle, or just particularly good at all whether with its plot, the emotion it carries, the humor...and the ending is just a completely forced, improbable, typically American all-out dramatic release of tension. And John Candy dying years later, an unfortunate event in itself, doesn't make this film any better or his character more likable. It's alright, but by no means a great film, and certainly no classic and what not.