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The late Canadian comedian John Candy may not have
been in a class by himself, but roll-call was short.
Candy portrays shower curtain ring salesman, Del
Griffith, and when he’s asked in the movie how he is doing, Griffith replies; “I’m
still a million dollars short of being a millionaire.”
I laugh every time I hear Candy say that line in this
holiday classic, and I’m laughing as I type this right now.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is one of more than 16
Christmas movies I watch every year immediately after Thanksgiving, and this is
one of five films I watch multiple times till Christmas day.
Steve Martin is a stressed-out advertising executive who
invertedly winds up traveling with Candy from New York to Chicago. Candy is
goofy and good hearted while Martin is serious and overly orderly.
John Candy, 1987
Writer, productor and director John Hughes crafted this
comedy, and as advertised, this flick is funny. I laugh out loud every time I
view several scenes year after year, and tonight was no different.
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is sentimental
without being sappy and displays why John Candy was a viable comedian in the 1980s.
Four stars easy for this holiday comedy.
Mark Izzy Schurr
