Now then, what I am reviewing today has become a holiday classic. It is one of the ONLY Thanksgiving movies out there, and is so much fun to watch every year. Steve Martin and John Candy star in this movie together, and they are one of the funniest comedic movie pairings of all time. The film's plot is simple, yet VERY hilarious: Steve Martin plays Neal Page, a high-strung marketing executive, who meets Del Griffith, played by John Candy, an eternally optimistic, overly talkative, and clumsy shower curtain ring salesman. They share a three-day journey of misadventures trying to get Neal home to Chicago from New York City in time for Thanksgiving dinner with his family. His wife, played by Laila Robbins, son, played by Matthew Lawrence, and VERY Cute, lovable daughter, played by Olivia Burnette.

 

And that sets the movie off. Yes, there are so many wild, intricate, and crazy characters these 2 characters meet along the course of this movie, and to analyze each one would be simply maddening and too spoiling. So, just find that out on your own. Instead, I am gonna take a look at the 2 main characters this movie puts all of its focus on: Steve Martin and John Candy. Steve Martin(Cheaper By The Dozen, Cheaper By The Dozen 2, The Pink Panther, The Pink Panther 2, The Big Year,), as Neal Page is hilarious. Martin is one of the funniest actors out there, and his acting really shines in this role, as he goes from annoyed, to mad, to calm, to frustrated, in a matter of minutes. He's that funny. All of his jokes are very funny. Neal seems to be a stressed out marketing executive, working for a boss who TAKES FOREVER on deciding magazine covers. Once Del Griffith steals his taxi, the two later meet up the same airport. And, their friendship begins from there. But, when the movie begins for a while, Page has a hatred for Griffith, and finds him annoying on every level. He only cares about him because Griffith is his transportation home for Thanksgiving. But, as the movie progresses, Page really likes Griffith's company, and the two become the best of friends along their perilous, wacky journey. John Candy as Del Grffith is hilarious as well. Much like John Belushi in the 70's, and Chris Farley in the 90's, John Candy was the funniest comedian around in the 80's. It's a shame he died only a decade later after this movie. His humor was VERY funny, and very situational, and, uniquely emotional at times. He is VERY well-meaning, and helpful, but also is a slob at times too, leaving underwear and socks all over the motel bathroom sinks he and Neal stay in for a few hours. Candy really shines in this role, and most of the jokes in this movie play off of Neal and De reacting to each other and the messes they get into, mostly caused by Del. Those are the real shining points of this movie.

 

The music by Ira Newborn is very fun, and the score has a nice 80's feel to itself, but the real songs that make this movie awesome is the entire soundtrack. Let's take a quick look at each song:

1.) "I'll Show You Something Special" by Balaam and the Angel. This is an AWESOME 80's rock song, played when Neal and Del are being driven to their motel by a taxi driver with an oddly designed vehicle.

2.) "Back in Baby's Arms" by Emmylou Harris. This is played during the iconic, and HILARIOUS "those aren't pillows" scene. While not a good song, the scene it plays in is hilarious. I won't spoil it for you. You have to find out on your own. XD

3.) "Gonna Move" by Dave Edmunds. Played during the scene where Del's friend Owen, a tobacco chewing hillbilly, picks them up in his truck, and agrees to take them a little further to their destination. Again, while not a good song, it is still hilarious to see it in the scene it plays during.

4.) "BA-NA-NA-BAM-BOO" by Westworld. Played during the scene where Neal and Del take a city bus to get closer to their destination. Again, while not a good song, it is still hilarious to see it in the scene it plays during.

5.) "I Can Take Anything" by Eta feat. Steve Martin & John Candy. This is a pretty cool, 80's sounding techno song, played during the scene where Neal goes to the car rental company, and finds out the car he rented isn't here for pickup. The song ads to the humor,as Steve Martin flips out, in a physical, annoyed rage.

6.) "Six Days on the Road" by Steve Earle & The Dukes. Played during the scene where Neal and Del are on the freeway, driving, late at night, towards their destination. Again, while not a good song, it is still hilarious to see it in the scene it plays during. Especially when John Candy won't stop fidgeting with the car seat controls. XD

7.) "Mess Around" Ray Charles. This is without a doubt the best, most awesome song in this movie, mostly due to the fact that while it is playing, John Candy is iconicly, HILARIOUSLY lip-synching to the song. It is played in the scene where Neal and Del are on the freeway, driving, late at night, towards their destination, but Neal gets tired, switches seats with Del, and has Del drive them for a few hours.

"Red River Rock" by Silicon Teens. The night before, their car catches on fire, but thaws out from the snow, and Nel and Del get back on the freeway, and this song is played during this scene, mostly with the camera showing how destroyed, yet still mobile their car looks. It's a coo, 80's techno song, and fits well in this scene.

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" by Steve Martin & John Candy. This is already a famous song, but plays in the same scene where Neal and Del are driving in their burnt car. Martin and Candy are hilarious in this scene, and they sing together, at the same time, adding to the already present humor.

"Power To Believe (Del's Theme)" by The Dream Academy. This song REALLY fits in this movie, and really adds to the occasional emotional tone seen in all of John Hughe's movies. It really shows how emotionally troubled of a person Del is, as it is played when he sleeps outside, during the snow, for a few mins, until Steve Martin lets him in.

"Modigliani Lost in Your Eyes)" by Book of Love. This is also a very emotional, but also awesome song. This is played during the scene where Neal and Del FINALLY get home, and carry eachother's suitcases to Neal's house.

"Everytime You Go Away" by Blue Room. Played during the final scene in th emovie where Neal and Del go inside Neal's house, get ready to eat Thanksgving with Neal's parents and family. Neal finally reunites with his family, after a 3 day wild, and crazy adventure. The movie ends with a happy, and emotionally brightened face of John Candy, that we all feel when we sit down to eat Thanksgiving dinner with our families.

The directing by John Hughes (Mr. Mom, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Some Kind of Wonderful, The Great Outdoors, She's Having A Baby, Say Anything..., Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost In New York, Drillbit Taylor,), IS PERFECT! THIS IS ONE OF THE FUNNIEST, but also one of the most emotionally heartfelt movies of all time. The acting by Steve Martin and John Candy create a powerhouse of humor. The soundtrack also is awesome. The scenery, the tone, it all is perfect. THE COMEDY IS SOME OF THE FUNNIEST EVER CAPTURED ON FILM! I WAS LAUGHING EVERY MINUTE! One thing John Hughes nails with each, and every one of his movies is that he makes a hilarious, memorable comedy movie, with a great, emotionally heartfelt tone throughout. IT IS THE BEST THANKSGIVING MOVIE EVER MADE, and is an absolute joy to watch every year with my family on Thanksgiving. Even both Steve Martin and John Candy THEMSELVES have said that this movie is their favorite that they have both made in their careers. And, for that, I am giving this movie a SOLID 10 out of 10.