Required Viewing for ThanksgivingQuick — what’s the first movie that pops into your head when you think of “Thanksgiving”?

For me, it’s without a doubt: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

If you’re unfamiliar with the 1987 comedy, here’s a description of it from Amazon:

Neal Page is an advertising executive who just wants to fly home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. But all Neal Page gets is misery. Misery named Del Griffith – a loud mouthed, but nevertheless loveable, salesman who leads Neal on a cross-country, wild goose chase that keeps Neal from tasting his turkey. Steve Martin (Neal) and John Candy (Del) are absolutely wonderful as two guys with a knack for making the worst of a bad situation. If it’s painful, funny, or just plain crazy, it happens to Neal and Del in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Every traveler’s nightmare in a comedy-come-true!

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is truly one of my favorite comedy movies of all time. It’s well structured, hilarious, quotable and unusually heartwarming. You really care about the two main characters as they take you on their hellacious cross country trip.

The link I’ve provided is to the “Those Aren’t Pillows” Edition, which apparently has a deleted scene and several featurettes. It’s definitely a must-see, or a must-see-again, movie.

Wishing all my family, friends, and readers a very happy Thanksgiving (and a trample-free Black Friday).


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