Let me tell you, this movie is like comfort food for the soul. I recently rewatched 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' after years, and it's just as hilarious and heartwarming as I remembered. Steve Martin and John Candy? Absolute comedy gold together!
The chemistry between these two is electric. Steve Martin plays the perfect straight man to John Candy's lovable buffoon. That scene where they're forced to share a bed? "Those aren't pillows!" still makes me laugh out loud every time.
What really surprised me on this rewatch was how well the film holds up. Made in 1987, but the travel nightmares feel just as relevant today - cancelled flights, rental car disasters, questionable motels. It's like John Hughes predicted modern travel woes!
The Blu-ray transfer is decent though not perfect. Some scenes look a bit waxy due to overzealous noise reduction, but colors pop nicely. The 5.1 audio really shines during chaotic scenes like the famous "You're going the wrong way!" highway sequence.
Special features are where this release truly excels. The tribute to John Candy had me emotional - what a talent we lost too soon. The making-of documentary shows just how quickly Hughes wrote this masterpiece (just four days for the first draft!).
Warning though: that rental car scene with Edie McClurg still contains enough F-bombs to make your grandma faint. Maybe skip that part if watching with kids around Thanksgiving!
Bottom line? This isn't just a comedy - it's about unexpected friendship and human connection. That final reveal about Del's situation gets me every time. If you don't own this already, do yourself a favor and pick up this definitive edition.