Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Unspooled

Paul Scheer & Amy Nicholson

Film Reviews, Tv & Film

4.6 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 24 November 2022

⏱️ ? minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Paul and Amy get waylaid by John Hughes’ 1987 road trip comedy Planes, Trains and Automobiles! They discuss the true story the movie is based on, address the hot streak that John Hughes was on at the time (11 films in five years!), and analyze Hughes’ unmatched ability to capture the full range of John Candy. Plus: was Elton John supposed to write a song for this movie? Next week, tune in as we get back on the road for Thelma and Louise! You can join the conversation for this series on the Unspooled Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/unspooledpodcast, and on Paul’s Discord at https://discord.gg/ZwtygZGTa6. Learn more about the show at unspooledpod.com, follow us on Twitter @unspooled and Instagram @unspooledpod, and don’t forget to rate, review & subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. You can also listen to our Stitcher Premium game show Screen Test right now at https://www.stitcher.com/show/unspooled-screen-test and apply to be a contestant at [email protected]!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's show is sponsored by Chummers, Big and Tall.
0:03.0	The year is 1987.
0:06.0	And those are in podcasts!
0:08.0	The movie, Plains, Trains and Automobiles.
0:34.0	Hello everyone and welcome to Unspooled!
0:38.0	Were we on spool the greatest films to see if they are classics or just remembered that way?
0:42.0	I am joined by Amy Nicholson, a film critic who writes for The New York Times.
0:46.0	And I am joined by Paul Sheer, a Wheel of Fortune champion.
0:50.0	Yes.
0:51.0	And a semi-finalist on Celebrity Pickleball.
0:53.0	Yeah, you know, look Amy, we didn't win the finals, but I was just happy to get into that semi-final round.
0:58.0	It was a very big boost to my own ego.
1:01.0	Mind of a champion, Paul. Mind of a champion.
1:04.0	Amy, we are talking about a movie that I think is maybe one of the best John Hughes films,
1:10.0	but definitely one of the best buddy comedies ever made.
1:14.0	Plains, Trains and Automobiles.
1:15.0	A movie that is so beloved and so tied to Thanksgiving that I can't think of any other comedies that have tried to really give this movie a genuine run for its money in 35 years of dominating the Thanksgiving movie spot.
1:28.0	But is this movie good because of the script or is it good because of the casting?
1:33.0	I mean, I think that this movie really pulls out the personality of Steve Martin and John Canyon in a way that no other film has really done ever since.
1:42.0	It pulls out the darkest sides of my own personalities, which is why it makes for a sort of terrifying, painful and endearing watch.
1:49.0	And we will finally get to the bottom of the question, what is up with Steve Martin's wife in this movie?
1:55.0	Why is their relationship so strained? All of this and so much more.
	...

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