Planes, Trains & Automobiles

In the year following his death, the nostalgia-fueled hosannas for John Hughes, including an absurdly long Oscar tribute, have vastly overestimated his value as a filmmaker. But Planes, Trains And Automobiles does showcase his talent for solid, unpretentious comedy—and having two pros like Steve Martin and John Candy doesn’t hurt. As an uptight businessman trying to get home in time for Thanksgiving dinner, Martin meets Candy’s shower-curtain-ring salesman at the airport when his plane gets grounded. Unable to shake him, Martin is forced to drag along Candy’s irritating slob—full of bad jokes and poor life advice—as he searches for a way to get home before the turkey hits the table.

Updated 10/26/2011