Thursday, Film4, 10:50pm
John Hughes’ Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) remains a quintessential holiday film that masterfully intertwines comedy with emotional depth. Starring Steve Martin as the tightly wound marketing executive Neal Page and John Candy as the affable, well-meaning Del Griffith, the film charts their chaotic journey home for Thanksgiving after a series of travel mishaps. What sets the film apart from typical road-trip comedies is its tonal dexterity. Hughes balances laugh-out-loud gags—ranging from car fires to ill-fated motel stays—with poignant explorations of loneliness, gratitude, and human connection. Candy, in particular, gives a career-defining performance, blending slapstick with moments of aching vulnerability that linger long after the credits roll.
The film's soundtrack complements its themes of misadventure and eventual warmth with a blend of 80s pop, rock, and blues. Tracks like "Everytime You Go Away" by Blue Room, a cover of the Paul Young hit, encapsulate the film's emotional highs, particularly in its heartwarming finale. The soundtrack's use of upbeat yet off-kilter compositions mirrors the unpredictable journey of its protagonists, while songs like "Red River Rock" by Silicon Teens provide a quirky, rhythmic undercurrent to the duo’s escapades. Notably, Hughes weaves music organically into the narrative, using it to underscore key moments rather than overpower them, a hallmark of his filmmaking style.
In many ways, the soundtrack feels emblematic of Hughes’ broader oeuvre: emotionally resonant yet unpretentious, blending mainstream accessibility with deeper artistic choices. Much like the film itself, it invites the audience to laugh at the absurdities of life while reminding them of its quiet, tender moments. Thirty-six years on, Planes, Trains and Automobiles still resonates not just as a comedy classic but as a heartfelt ode to human imperfection and unexpected companionship. Its soundtrack, though modest in scope, remains a perfect sonic companion to its timeless narrative.
- Daisy Rae