Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Stars	User	Rating
6	chemtrails	55 _44th
One's an X, one's a Y, together they must hurf a blurf a durf
5	Ocelot	10 _5th
I feel like an alien reading the reviews for this. One of the most unfunny things ever put on film -- every single joke is something going wackily wrong and/or Steve Martin being injured somewhere. It's an R-rated G movie, featuring the comic sensibility of Adam Sandler with even more farcical schmaltz. The end is the worst, too -- Neil's wife greets him like she thought he was dead. All ten points are for Steve Martin, giving it his all for a movie that doesn't deserve it. What a disaster.
3	Adrianics	91 _82nd
As close to perfect as a comedy can get - A fantastic double act, wonderful cameos, frantic pace, terrific writing and one of the funniest set pieces in movie history. And that ending... If you don't get choked up, you deserve a beating.
3	hellsditch	75 _37th
Slightly disappointed with this one. I didn't realize how un-funny I find John Candy until I finished this movie. I laughed at his antics exactly once, when he was clearing his sinuses while he and Martin shared the bed. And the little laugh he tacks on to his sentences? Drove me crazy. I found the ending a little phony and rushed, too. That said, Steve Martin is still in this, and he's always great; he did a fantastic job of conveying annoyance (I loved his reaction to the empty V-5 spot).
2	mrbeck	60 _25th
Steve Martin and John Candy. Should be a good mix... it's a little too slapstick, and not enough plot for me. Mediocre! stamp
2	martryn	79 _74th
I feel that this movie embodies the 80s comedy, and it is, in my opinion, the most iconic Steve Martin and John Candy roles. When I first saw this something like 25 years ago, I thought that it was the most hilarious thing I had ever watched. Obviously my comedic tastes have changed over the years, but this will forever hold a special place in the comedy echelon.
2	BillyShears	90 _92nd
John Candy laughing devil.
2	lumen	6 _45th
Drew Barrymore and Norm Macdonald's favourite movie.
2	moraesfelipe	82 _88th
Watching it again after more than ten years -- and noticing at least two great cameos from Bueller's Day Off --, this one still feels great, the perfect kind of warm comedy that only Hughes could've made. They just don't make this type of touching comedy anymore.
2	spleen	90 _95th
Interestingly enough, when this was released in Japan it was known as "Planes, Bullet Trains and Rickshaws".
2	misterpaul	100 _87th
Greatness!
2	Okkervil	87 _93rd
One of the finest comedy movies of the 80's and probably (for me at least) John Hughes' finest moment. This movie not only sums up what was great about Hughes at his best, such as the witty script, the films heartfelt core, & excellent comic direction, but also what makes Hughes a cult figure to a degree. As in spite and because of the above, this movie is cheesy and so 80's it hurts! Candy and Martin are great in this too. Then to top it all we are treated to a 80's power ballad of an ending!
2	mwgerb	51 _45th
I find the antics a little underwhelming, and the comedy is sort of lackluster. Perhaps it's the repetitive predictability when you know everything's going to go wrong, or the ease with which the string of abuses are eventually brushed off, or the casting of Martin as the straight man (although he pulls it off pretty well). At any rate, it ends up functioning as a heartwarming holiday movie more than a comedy, and I can see why so many people love it (even if I don't).
2	closedmouth	60 _20th
Funny at times, annoying and cringe-inducing in others, with some of the most god-awful music I've ever heard in a film.
2	Clark Nova	0 _0th
fuck john candy
2	CMonster	80 _69th
Just rewatched for the first time in years. This movie definitely deserves some sort of award for capturing the heart and soul of why people bitch about 80's music.
2	Leonardis	93 _76th
I loved this movie! Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is touchy, serious, and funny. Worth watching for Something good. These two fit like a puzzle in the roles. I liked the Kevin Bacon scene.
2	brandons	87 _84th
A warm, mature offering from Hughes, with Martin's restraint a perfect counterpoint to Candy's enormous (and enormously amusing) fooling around.
2	Hawkins	80 _68th
Highly nostalgic right down to the freeze-frame ending (which admittedly draws a good deal of its emotional charge from John Candy's 'too soon' factor). Apparently this was originally three hours long and better justified its big teary ending but the studio took all the trimmings out, which I think was wise. If it were that long you'd only watch it once, at ninety minutes you can put it on every year.
1	doctor7	78 _68th
Packs moments of genuine hilarity as well as moments of genuine heart and you never feel like either is forced as Hughes manages to weave between the two is ease. Even so not all the jokes in this are knocked out of the park as some are telegraphed pretty bad. Even so it's certainly better than plenty of road trip movies, especially those which have come out lately.
1	TheDenizen	40 _17th
Ugh. Everyone I know loved this flick but I can't understand why. Other than Martin's big meltdown scene this is pretty uneventful.
1	Pioneer	60 _10th
Low level comedy and predictable situations
1	nutcrackr	95 _99th
Superb humor, class acting from all cast. Brilliant use of music. Sad ending shows the talent of Martin and Candy. Brilliant from start to finish, perhaps the best comedy ever.
1	Nathan S	3 _45th
Despite its reliance on old "cynic stuck with obnoxious" buddy movie cliches, and the consistently awful music, this is pretty hilarious. Steve Martin and John Candy have great chemistry.
1	twincinema	100 _99th
A delightful bundle of joy featuring two of my favourite comedic actors of ALL-TIME! I would not want to peer into the soul of the (wo)man who disliked this film, because I would go blind looking at a pit darker than hell.
1	caiman	80 _62nd
I love John Candy but don't especially like Steve Martin. He's not horrible or anything, I just don't find him that funny. Buy John Candy is great, and he's at his best here. I find the comedy in this film very uneven. Sometimes it's subtle and clever, other times it's in-your-face cheesy. But what makes this a good movie is the real humanity it presents. The very end is a bit hammy, but when all is said and done I feel deeply for Candy's character.
1	Grit	76 _82nd
Consistently enjoyable all the way through. Very good humour.
1	nilkynarfy	85 _86th
In which John Candy, overweight comedic improviser, makes grown men weep. Even the first scene with him gets me. That kicked puppy dog look he has when Steve Martin tries to pull him out of a moving cab just screams "this is a man who has lost everything that has ever mattered to him." One of Hughes' only big boy films, and he is definitely in over his head, but it's altogether effective and funny. Much better than She's Having a Baby.
1	thedo666	96 _98th
Seriously, Why doesnt John Hughes still make movies? The greatest comedy of all time. Warm and funny. If John Candy doesnt break your heart in this then your a fool with a toaster for feelings.
1	Icarus	60 _27th
I miss John Candy. The way he manages to walk the line between "punch-him-in-the-face-annoying" and "the genuine article" is really quite good. Martin does a good job as the straight man, with at least a couple of inspired moments of exasperation. Hughes keeps the film moving along, and it thankfully doesn't overstay its welcome.
1	muutanet	56 _45th
Anoying company. Well, actually I never really liked John Candy's acting, but now I think that the problem was not in him but parts they gave him. Poor Candy. If you are not in a suitable sizes, you're out of job or you're the target of worst jokes. At least Steve Martin was funny here. Dylan Baker's got also short but funny part.
1	jstry	78 _59th
Having just seen this all the way through for the first time, I can definitely see why it's a classic -- and it's everything a comedy should be. At the same time, I wish I'd seen it years ago because I've heard it quoted and seen clips so many times that I think I already knew about all the funny parts. Good stuff though.
1	recklessmess	80 _71st
those aren't pillows!
1	XakkMaster	68 _37th
Watching for the first time in 2022: It's fine. I don't think it's aged particularly well though and I've seen a dozen things it's influenced (for better or worse). I respect it for it's place in comedy history and Candy and Martin are good together; but I was disappointed after seeing it on so many recommendation lists. Predictable scenarios, ham-fisted slapstick, exaggerated facial acting, shoe-horned emotional finale... Not as memorable or creative as other Hughes works.
1	Tomhet	6 _59th
If I'm ever having a shitty day, I just watch that scene with John Candy jamming to Ray Charles while driving over and over again.
1	WWallce4prez	74 _56th
The road trip movie that all other road trip movies wish they were. Classic.
1	Melvin Smif	70 _79th
Not many road trip movies top this one.
1	ewp805	81 _76th
Poor John Candy :(
1	EmeraldGuard	60 _26th
The ending took it up a notch for me.
1	Mechatigger	57 _26th
Both stars are fine, but the gags are hit-and-miss and the mawkish ending is a miscalculation.
1	Cinema_Asia	70 _56th
Classic Steve Martin and John Candy road trip movie. It's John Hughes so you know what's going to happen before it happens but it's fun getting there. It's also great to see Steve Martin say fuck about twenty times along with homosexual gags back in the 80's when it was still alright to do so. R.I.P. John Candy. He was always great as the unapologetic fat comedy man of the 80's. What separates this from modern comedies is that this has soul and doesn't come across as obnoxious.
1	ludvigsen	80 _86th
This should be your Christmas movie of choice (even if they're racing home for thanksgiving).
1	sheddle	90 _85th
It's an overused phrase that I pretty much hate, but it's appropriate here: If you don't like this movie, you're an asshole.
1	hellboy76	71 _84th
Hughes has done better work before but in those works did not have two leads with this much chemistry. Martin and Candy are great together.
1	thegreyfox	90 _93rd
An absolute classic film, with two of the finest comedy actors out there .... people find the characters annoying, but thats the POINT !! ... the film takes you through paroxisms of cringing embarrassment, through real laugh out loud humour ( the burned out car is just brilliant ) and ends in real heartwarming "thanksgiving" ... in the same mode as its a wonderful life. On top of that it has some classic one liners which will stay with you forever.
1	ribcage	63 _43rd
had a few huge laughs with a lot of nothing at all in-between. i've got to learn that these type of comedies do nothing for me.
1	ZachReviews	90 _72nd
A way better "Due Date"
1	Paxton	81 _89th
"You're going the wrong way!" "How would they know where we're going?"
1	bstpierre	66 _57th
"Those aren't pillows!"
1	anarchistica	10 _1st
With some effort on my part i made it until slightly over half of the movie (51 minutes). It's utterly obnoxious and i didn't laugh even once. Everything happens in service to the plot - including the most unlikely events and people not acting like remotely believable human beings. I don't think Criticker has ever been this off for me before ("Probable Score: 70").
1	bratings	89 _74th
Planes, Trains and Automobiles may be a tad overly-sentimental at times, but it's a rewarding comedic experience that works off the performances of Steve Martin and John Candy.
1	brell	40 _76th
I grind my teeth in exaggerated anguish while waiting for the next thing to go wrong, flail around like I'm being personally attacked while watching the thing go wrong, and exhale a very weary and ever wary laugh after the thing has gone wrong. favorite Thanksgiving movie, even if it wasn't the only Thanksgiving movie I know

Average Percentile 57.72% from 4471 Ratings