Scene Analysis, Planes Trains And Automobiles in anticlimatic

Easily one of the most touching and memorable scenes in movie history according to almost anyone who has seen the movie…but what makes it so good? I’ve thought a lot about it, and I have some ideas. A lot is said about the quality of the actors, both as individuals and in regards to their unique chemistry and friendship. The director, John Hughes, is equally infamous for being at the top of his field- but all this talent does is open the widest possible path for the deeper skeleton of meaning to come through.

The first clever thing the scene does is to put us on Steve Martin’s side, initially. Up to this point in the movie John Candy has been insufferable and borderline maliciously ignorant in the amount of times and ways he has slowed down or seemed to completely disrespect Steve Martin. He stole his cab, he didn’t leave him with a single towel in the bathroom, etc. But as Steve Martin, who has been pressure cooking steadily for the entire first act of the film, lands blow after hilarious blow, the catharsis we feel at John Candy’s ignorance and annoyance being called out in full takes a turn.

The “vomit bag” line struck deep. You can see the immediate defeat in Candy’s face, and from that point on the fight is completely knocked out of him. It was the knockout blow of the argument, which had some degree of back and forth up to then. Every jab Martin lands on Candy after that point hits different. We understand that he is now just kicking someone who is down, but can’t stop. He’s pressure cooked for too long, has too much to say to get it out.

Still, just by the look on Candy’s face, and the knowledge that he is listening and taking it to heart, communicates to us that this is a character capable of self reflection which makes him as innately good as the best of us, in our best moments. Subconsciously, I think we recognize this.

Which is why, when he speaks again and confirms exactly that- and goes further to say that he likes himself, and isn’t changing- we understand that despite his odious nature and habits he has integrity, honesty, and loves himself- which is the first fundamental building block in loving anyone or anything else. “What you see is what you get.” Though awful on the surface, this is a very rare type of person that we all recognize as exactly the type of person we all want to be, and want to be in our lives.

Last updated January 05, 2024