Planes Trains & Automobiles

Some John Hughes comedies are a bit lightweight, a bit frothy, a bit kiddy-friendly. They might make you smile, but they won't necessarily make you laugh out loud. This one's different. There are some real classic moments in it. The bit where Neal and Del wake up in bed together next morning ("Those aren't pillows!"). The bit where they are sharing the back of a truck with an alsatian dog, and it is so cold that their mouths have frozen in a permanent grin - including the dog. The bit where Neal is asleep in the car, and Del is singing/dancing/playing along to Mess Around on the radio instead of concentrating on driving. The bit where the traffic cop stops them, and Del tells him that even though his speedometer, his temperature and fuel gauge and all other instruments are knackered, his radio is as clear as a bell. And the bit where Neal vents his anger on the receptionist at the airport car rental place.
The last ten minutes of the movie, where Neal eventually gets home to his family, and we find out the truth about Del's wife (which the story has been leading up to all the way through), is really emotional. Much more emotional than you would expect from a John Hughes comedy anyway.
I love this film. I can watch it over and over again and not get tired of it. There's not many comedies where that is true - Spinal Tap, Life of Brian and Office Space are probably the only others. Del's witticisms (or lack of) get on Neal's nerves so much, that we laugh along with them, not because they are funny, but because they are so unfunny.
John Candy was a great comic talent who is sadly missed - some cruel people might say the same about Steve Martin after the crap stuff that he has done recently. This was made when both of them were at their peak.

Amazon have their review wrong in my opinion.

This classic piece of cinematic work charts more than just a disastrous journey across a snow-bound North America by two hopelessly mismatched travellors. The comedy comes thick and fast between on one hand an up-tight high-flying advertising executive, Martin and on the other a big-mouthed but big-hearted slob of a man, Candy.

Martin is at the pinnacle of his profession and has all the rewards that go with it, a lovely wife, healthy kids, a luxory home and a very nice watch. He is used to getting what he wants when he wants it.

Candy scrapes by as a shower curtain-ring salesman because his customers like him. His rewards are hinted at by the fact that he doesn't have a very nice watch.

The real journey, I hinted at, is where Martin eventually discovers enough humility to take a serious look at someone a lot less fortunate than himself and learns that "by the grace of God, goes he".

All the crazy comic situations that the hapless pair fall into during their challenging journey come to focus sharpened by a good helping of pathos in the final five minutes.

I regularly watch this film for a good laugh and the feel-good factor.

If you have seen this movie and agree with Amazon, then, "EX--CUSE--MEEEeee". If you haven't, then please make up your own mind.

If you were on a desert island with 2hrs battery life in your portable DVD player, this is the only film you would ever want to watch.

Hilarious, magical, briliently written and acted, you can watch it a thousand times and never get tired of it.

It has to be on everyone's shelf. No excuses.