The John Hughes classic celebrates its 30th anniversary with a new Blu-ray release
There are cinematic staples of the holiday season. It’s a Wonderful Life, Elf, Gremlins, and Die Hard come to mind. Frankly, any bank holiday Monday without a James Bond film is a waste in my opinion. It speaks highly of Planes, Trains and Automobiles that it became a favorite of mine, despite my lack of familiarity with Thanksgiving, having grown up in the UK. The film is now celebrating 30 years since it hit theaters, an event marked by a new Blu-ray release.
Synopsis:
Written and directed by the incomparable John Hughes, the celebrated comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles makes an on-time arrival for its 30th anniversary on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack with a Digital HD copy and on DVD October 10, 2017 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Starring comedy greats Steve Martin and John Candy, the uproarious classic follows a businessman (Martin) who is struggling to get home for Thanksgiving, but burdened by one travel mishap after another, as well as the company of an annoying traveling salesman (Candy). Filled with outrageously funny situations and a generous helping of warmth, the film also features appearances by Michael McKean, Edie McClurg and Kevin Bacon.
For those unfamiliar with the film (for shame), it’s a melding of those good old tropes, the road trip and the odd couple. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is an on edge, stressed, neat freak who plys his trade in advertising. He’s thrown together by necessity with salesman Del Griffith (John Candy), a lovable, easy-going slob. They’re both heading to Chicago for Thanksgiving, and due to circumstances, have to combine their efforts to make the journey home. The travails of getting there are milked for all it’s worth. This is a case of man vs. man, technology, and the elements. It’s a predicament heightened by the holiday season, ramping up the stress levels as a journey is shared by this pair — one of self-discovery, dispelling preconceptions, conflict, and ultimately friendship. It’s heartwarming, and it’s gloriously entertaining to watch.
While many immediately cite The Breakfast Club or Ferris Bueller’s Day Off when talking about John Hughes, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is perhaps his greatest achievement, taking his knack for crafting characters and situations and transposing them to a more mature setting. There is a subtlety in how the film charts the change and growth of these men, as individuals and as a pair, as it progresses, all underpinned by Steve Martin and John Candy, comedy stalwarts of the era who play off each other’s natural abilities beautifully. There’s a real genuine poignancy to Candy’s work here that feeds into the natural flow of the situations. In all, it feels reminiscent of other holiday fare such as Scrooged/A Christmas Carol, where a journey and its insights open up a man to a better way of life. This talent of these leads and a brilliant script result in a hilarious and insightful joy of a film.
The Package
Visually, the release is somewhat lacking. Over-processing leads to some loss of image quality and washing out of exterior sequences. Detail is OK, as are colors, keeping much of their natural tone. Special features go for quality over quantity and include:
- Getting There is Half the Fun: The Story of Planes, Trains and Automobiles: Conversations with John Hughes, Steve Martin, and John Candy, intercut with interviews with other cast/crew members. Great feature where they delve into the writing and casting, while revealing specific tidbits about memorable scenes and changes to the script while filming.
- John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast: Running close to an hour and made up of two parts: John Hughes: The Voice of a Generation and Heartbreak and Triumph: The Legacy of John Hughes. The first features Hughes and a number of actors discussing his contributions to ‘80s cinema, specifically his writing, characters, and inspirations. The second part focuses on his relationship with actors and how together they craft the characters he creates. It also goes into his career in general as well as his personal life. Really great additions that deepen appreciation for the filmmaker’s contributions.
- John Hughes for Adults: More well known for his teen fare, this featurette looks at his approach to a more adult film.
- A Tribute to John Candy: A touching tribute from cast and crew to the big man himself.
- Deleted Scene: Airplane Food
- Digital download code
The Bottom Line
Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a not just a great holiday movie, it’s a great movie full stop. A genuine comedy classic. Not to mention a highlight of the careers of John Hughes, Steve Martin, and John Candy. A near perfect blend of angst, hilarity, and heart. While the image quality is a little lacking, the release comes with a superb set of extras.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles is available on combo Blu-ray/DVD from October 10th.
