Planes, Trains and Automobiles - 6 stars out of 10

Planes, Trains and Automobiles - 6 stars out of 10

"Planes, Trains and Automobiles" is an ode to the negative stereotypes of the transportation industry.  John Hughes, one of the greatest comedy writers of the 80's (Ferris Bueller, Home Alone), earned critical acclaim with this work.  While it provides a lot of laughs, some parts of the film are forgettable.  One thing that is not forgettable, however, is the infamous f-word scene (punctuated by Edie McClurg's most memorable line of her career).  Had it not been for these 19 f-words over the course of, wait for it... wait for it... 19 f-words over the course of ONE MINUTE, the film would carry a PG rating and be very suitable for families.  The comedy gets a bit tiresome by the end but if you know when to skip to the next scene, kids will love this.  Steve Martin is very impressive in his progression of frustration, all leading up to his meltdown.  It is especially impressive to consider that the scenes were not filmed in order, and yet each scene includes a subtle increase of angst.  John Candy is awesome, blissfully unaware and creating his own rules of proper social interaction.  The key to this film's success is its characterization and these two actors are a joy to watch through all of their misfortunes.  Empathy levels are high in regards to these characters, even though it has an inevitable happy ending.  It has the right ending, but the right ending is way too cheesy and predictable.  In spite of its "cheese factor," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" is a great Sunday afternoon comedy filled with slapstick comedy and scenarios that progress from bad to worse to worst... to even worse.