Title:
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Synopsis:
Neal Page is trying to return to his family for Thanksgiving in Chicago after being on a business trip in New York City. His journey is doomed from the outset, with Del Griffith, a traveling salesman, interfering first by leaving his trunk by the side of the road causing Neal to trip when racing a man for a cab, then moments later again by inadvertently snatching the taxi ride that Neal had just bought from an attorney. The two inevitably pair up later and begin an error-ridden adventure to help Neal get back to his home. Their flight from JFK Airport to O’Hare is diverted to Wichita due to a blizzard in Chicago, which ends up dissipating only a few hours after touchdown in Kansas. When every mode of transport fails them, what should have been a 1 hour and 45 minute New York-to-Chicago flight turns into a three-day ordeal, in which everything that can go wrong does.
The pair resort to various means to try and reach Chicago, but all get frustrated by either sheer bad luck or Del\u2019s incompetence. Forced to share a room in a downmarket motel on the first night, Neal blows up at Del and brutally insults him. Although his frustrations and angry rantings are not all unjustified, Neal deeply hurts Del’s feelings. In turn, Del admits that he regards Neal as a pretentious and uptight cynic and says that despite how Neal feels, he likes himself and is liked by others because he isn’t afraid to be the way he is. Neal is left speechless and the two men go to sleep. During the night, the two men have all their cash stolen by an opportunist burglar.
On the following day, they attempt to go by train. However, the locomotive breaks down, leaving the passengers stranded in a field. After reaching the nearest town, Del sells his remaining stock of shower curtain rings to buy bus tickets, but neglects to tell Neal that they are only valid to St. Louis. Upon arrival, the two part ways. Neal attempts to rent a car, but this too goes awry when Neal finds the rented car’s space at the distant rental lot empty. After walking back through the cold to the airport terminal, Neal vents his anger at the rental agent in a profane tirade, to no avail. In desperation, he attempts to hail a taxi to Chicago, but is ridiculed by a cab dispatcher with whom he has an altercation. Del arrives on the scene just in time to rescue Neal with his \u201cown\u201d rental car. Attempting to complete the journey by car, the reunited pair soon find themselves arguing again; the situation is made worse when Del nearly gets the two killed after driving in the wrong direction and ending up between two semi-trailer trucks. While the two men take a moment to recover outside, Del’s carelessly discarded cigarette sets fire to the rental car, melting all but the radio. The situation is made all the worse when Del reveals he had used Neal’s credit card to rent the car after they were accidentally switched on the first night.
With his credit cards destroyed in the fire, Neal sells his expensive designer watch to pay for a motel room. Neal finally manages to overcome his arrogance, inviting Del in from the cold and snowy night to share the room. The pair pull together for one last push to Chicago, but end up being thwarted yet again when their fire-damaged car is confiscated by the local police. They finally make it to Chicago, two days late, in the back of a refrigerated truck.
Under the assumption that Del has a family of his own (he frequently mentions his wife Marie and puts a framed picture of her on his various motel nightstands), the two men part ways, supposedly for the last time. However, Neal later pieces together some of the things Del had said about Marie during the journey, and realizes that Del is alone for the holiday. He goes back to the train station where the two had earlier parted ways and sees Del sitting alone. Del tells Neal that Marie actually died eight years prior and that he no longer has a home of his own. Neal, feeling sorry for the man who went out of his way just to get him home for Thanksgiving and having himself become a nicer person during the journey, invites Del to enjoy Thanksgiving with his family. The film ends with Neal finally returning home to his wife, children, parents and in-laws, and introducing Del to the family.
In a post-credits scene, Neal’s boss, who had earlier delayed him from leaving work due to being indecisive over some ad mock-ups, is still looking at his choices in his office while his Thanksgiving turkey lays out on his desk.
The pair resort to various means to try and reach Chicago, but all get frustrated by either sheer bad luck or Del\u2019s incompetence. Forced to share a room in a downmarket motel on the first night, Neal blows up at Del and brutally insults him. Although his frustrations and angry rantings are not all unjustified, Neal deeply hurts Del’s feelings. In turn, Del admits that he regards Neal as a pretentious and uptight cynic and says that despite how Neal feels, he likes himself and is liked by others because he isn’t afraid to be the way he is. Neal is left speechless and the two men go to sleep. During the night, the two men have all their cash stolen by an opportunist burglar.
On the following day, they attempt to go by train. However, the locomotive breaks down, leaving the passengers stranded in a field. After reaching the nearest town, Del sells his remaining stock of shower curtain rings to buy bus tickets, but neglects to tell Neal that they are only valid to St. Louis. Upon arrival, the two part ways. Neal attempts to rent a car, but this too goes awry when Neal finds the rented car’s space at the distant rental lot empty. After walking back through the cold to the airport terminal, Neal vents his anger at the rental agent in a profane tirade, to no avail. In desperation, he attempts to hail a taxi to Chicago, but is ridiculed by a cab dispatcher with whom he has an altercation. Del arrives on the scene just in time to rescue Neal with his \u201cown\u201d rental car. Attempting to complete the journey by car, the reunited pair soon find themselves arguing again; the situation is made worse when Del nearly gets the two killed after driving in the wrong direction and ending up between two semi-trailer trucks. While the two men take a moment to recover outside, Del’s carelessly discarded cigarette sets fire to the rental car, melting all but the radio. The situation is made all the worse when Del reveals he had used Neal’s credit card to rent the car after they were accidentally switched on the first night.
With his credit cards destroyed in the fire, Neal sells his expensive designer watch to pay for a motel room. Neal finally manages to overcome his arrogance, inviting Del in from the cold and snowy night to share the room. The pair pull together for one last push to Chicago, but end up being thwarted yet again when their fire-damaged car is confiscated by the local police. They finally make it to Chicago, two days late, in the back of a refrigerated truck.
Under the assumption that Del has a family of his own (he frequently mentions his wife Marie and puts a framed picture of her on his various motel nightstands), the two men part ways, supposedly for the last time. However, Neal later pieces together some of the things Del had said about Marie during the journey, and realizes that Del is alone for the holiday. He goes back to the train station where the two had earlier parted ways and sees Del sitting alone. Del tells Neal that Marie actually died eight years prior and that he no longer has a home of his own. Neal, feeling sorry for the man who went out of his way just to get him home for Thanksgiving and having himself become a nicer person during the journey, invites Del to enjoy Thanksgiving with his family. The film ends with Neal finally returning home to his wife, children, parents and in-laws, and introducing Del to the family.
In a post-credits scene, Neal’s boss, who had earlier delayed him from leaving work due to being indecisive over some ad mock-ups, is still looking at his choices in his office while his Thanksgiving turkey lays out on his desk.
Movie Release Year:
1987
Genre:
Comedy
Holiday
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Show Type:
Movie
Date Added:
2018-02-07 17:59:03
Original Aspect Ratio:
1.85:1
Actors:
Steve Martin
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Directors:
John Hughes
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Date Added:
2018-02-07 17:59:03
