The next John Hughes film that we look at for #Johnuary is Planes, Trains and Automobiles. This is a film that gets referenced a lot in popular culture, particularly its title, and there a lot of classic moments in it. I’d seen this a few times in the past but it still wasn’t one that I new well. I was looking forward to revisiting it. Firstly, it’s got John Candy and Steve Martin, two comedy legends, in it. That’s a big coup for Hughes, as he normally goes for lesser known or unknown young actors. He was obviously riding on the wave of his success from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. This is another one he wrote, directed and produced.
Here are my real time thoughts as I was watching the film.
- It’s a cool title sequence where the film name just goes across the screen really fast. Then there’s really no other proper titles after that. I like that. A bit different.
- I never realised the dad from Ferris Bueller was in this.
- Of course, we have Kevin Bacon. He’s in every 80s movie isn’t he? In this one it’s a non-speaking role as the guy who runs for the cab at the start.
- John Hughes always has cool watches in his movies. I love John Candy’s watch. Not a fan of the moustache though.
- Another Hughes cast cameo this time from the actor who played the teacher from Ferris Bueller who says “Bueller…Bueller…”!
- The Taxi Driver is Mr Heckles from Friends!
- I’ve been Googling whilst watching this film and I just read that John Candy was only 43 when he died?! Tragic. He packed a lot of films into about 10 years.
- That scene of them waking up in the hotel room is classic and hilarious. That’s the classic shot isn’t it? Both of them spooning together, then John Candy mentions the pillows and then Steve Martin jumps up and does that little dance to shake it all off.
- You basically can’t go wrong having Steve Martin and John Candy in the same film.
- He had $700 in his wallet? Who does that? I guess it was the days before chip and pin
- Interestingly I felt this movie was much better made than Uncle Buck. Just in general quality and style. And Uncle Buck was filmed afterwards.
- The soundtrack is great in places.
- I love the sing-song on the bus. Steve Martin is really great in that bit. Simple comedy genius right there.
- I spotted a Galaga and Centipede arcade machines at the bus station! I love spotting old arcade machines in 80s movies
- Great to see Edie McClurg again. Best known for her school secretary role in Ferris Bueller as well as Diff’rent Strokes and Small Wonder. She also appeared in Hughes’ Curly Sue.
- I love the ‘f***ing scene’. I wonder if that was easier to get approved back in the 80s.
- Another classic scene is the car scene with the skeletons and John Candy as the devil. That stuff’s always good fun
- Nice to see Michael McKean’s cameo as the state trooper. Interestingly he is actually the 4th name, out of 4 names (John Candy, Steve Martin and Steve Martin’s wife and him) that get top billing. I guess he was friends with John Hughes or the cast.
- The flashback bit at the end is a nice touch. Recapping the best bits of the movie. You don’t see that a lot in films. Maybe it doesn’t always work. But it works here.
- Very nice ending. I forgot about the powerful bit with the news about John Candy’s wife.
- Interesting Planes, Trains and Automobiles rap mix at the end! “I Can Take Anything”
This is a pretty great film. I think I do tend to prefer Hughes’ films that have a bit more character arcs etc. rather than the straight comedies, but I still reckon this one will rank pretty highly in my list at the end of the week. It was a bit of a departure for John Hughes after his teen angst movies but he made the transition extremely well.
Images from Blu-Ray.com