An Underrated Thanksgiving Movie

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: A film that should be a holiday classic

Image c/o Paramount 

By Madison Sciba
Editor-in-Chief

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In 1987 a film was released about a man struggling to get home to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles features two comedy legends: Steve Martin and John Candy and was directed by the iconic 1980s director John Hughes. 

Of all the holiday films, very few center around Thanksgiving. Most “I have to get home” films are about people struggling to get home for Christmas. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, however, is about a man trying to get home to Chicago for Thanksgiving. Like the title suggests, Steve Martin’s character Neal takes a series of planes, trains, and various automobiles on his quest to return home. On this quest he gets stuck traveling with Del (John Candy), and the two suffer a series of accidents and delays, preventing their journey.

The holiday season has been increasingly overwhelmed with films about Christmas, so here is the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving without angering the “it's not Christmas yet” relatives.  After the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Westminster Dog Show, and whatever football game is on, consider Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. The heart warming story is nothing compared to the great comedy duo that was Steve Martin and John Candy. 

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