Planes, Trains and Automobiles Parent Guide

The US Thanksgiving holiday is one of the busiest travel times of the calendar year. Conveyance of the bustling crowds is further complicated by the possibility of bad weather, which affects much of the country during that third week of November. Knowing these facts, Neal Page (Steve Martin) books his airplane ticket out of New York City well in advance. Allowing two day’s grace, the well-organized businessman feels confident nothing can stop him from getting to Chicago in time to share the season’s festivities with his family.

He couldn’t be more wrong. Right from the beginning, his careful plans go awry. First, his board meeting runs overtime. Next, he must fight the rush hour masses to get a cab to the airport. (Look for Kevin Bacon’s cameo appearance during his race through Manhattan’s traffic.) And when he finally gets to JFK, he learns his flight has been delayed due to a snowstorm.

Yet those hurtles prove small compared to the giant obstacle he encounters next. While waiting in the terminal Neal catches sight of the downtown stranger who stole his taxi. Instead of a proper apology, the jovial salesman introduces himself as Del Griffith (John Candy) and offers friendship with a handshake. Neal tries to brush him off, but the bulky blabbermouth sticks like static cling.

In comedic fashion, the plot thwarts Neal’s every attempt to get home – and almost always the circumstances are complicated by the well-meaning, but misguided assistance provided by the persistently-present Del. Even switching modes of transportation from planes, to trains and automobiles, doesn’t help Neal get to his destination, or get rid of Del, any faster.

During their days on the road together, the unlikely pair destroys vehicles and property, gets robbed, and reluctantly shares accommodations. Depictions of reckless driving, creative ways to raise money and invasion of personal space detour into road violence, verbal assaults, fist fights, crude bathroom humor and sexual innuendo. As well, the script contains a blizzard of profanities, including one scene where the sexual expletive is used 19 times. (This frequent strong language also accounts for the movie’s R-rating.)

Despite this mature content, Planes, Trains and Automobiles has become a perennial favorite. Written and directed by John Hughes, it presents a fun premise and features great shtick delivered by Martin and Candy. Yet family viewers should proceed with caution because the baggage of the undesirable content tends to encumber the film’s feel-good ending just as incessantly as Del Griffith derails Neal Page.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.