Introduction
Welcome to my corner! Last week, I shared my thoughts about "The Imperial Message" by Franz Kafka and "The Doer of Good" by Oscar Wilde. This week, I'll be reviewing the film, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and the television special, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a 1987 American road trip comedy film written, produced, and directed by John Hughes and starring Steve Martin and John Candy. It tells the story of Neal (Steve Martin), an uptight marketing executive, and Del (John Candy), a well-meaning but annoying salesman, who become travel companions when their flight is diverted, and embark on a 3-day odyssey of misadventures trying to reach Chicago in time for Neal's Thanksgiving Day dinner with his family.
If you haven't seen this Thanksgiving classic, what are you doing? Go watch it right now! It's an absolute crime if you haven't seen it.
Unlike other holidays, like Christmas and Halloween, Thanksgiving doesn't get much screen time; similar to how it gets edged out by Christmas. Planes, Trains and Automobiles is one of the only Thanksgiving movies I know about. Also, one of the only ones I watch every year around this time.
My first few viewings of this movie, I couldn't stand Steve Martin's character, Neal. I thought he was far too cynical and mean, but as I get older and the more I watch it I find myself sympathizing with Neal. I still think he's pretty rude, but he is getting handed out a raw deal for most of the movie. I don't know what he did to deserve such bad karma (stolen cab, flight delay blizzard, cash stolen while sleeping, train malfunction, burned car, etc.), but watching the continuous beatings of life rain down upon him made my adult self hurt.
In a similar fashion, I felt the opposite way toward John Candy's character, Del, in my adult years than I did before. I still like Del better than Neal, and I still think his positive outlook on life is better; however, a lot of the problems that arise for near come about because of Del, whether or not on purpose. and he doesn't ever seem to sincerely apologize, or try to make up for it, or change. This aspect of his character is what I dislike the most. He continues to screw up, but doesn't take the appropriate responsibility.
For instance, Neal pays for the majority of their trip after their cash is stolen (because he's the only one with a credit card), but Del is the one causing the most damage during their trip and never pays Neal back. He offers to a couple of times, but never gets it done. Del is the cause of their rental car's crash damage and the fire damage, yet Neal has to pay for it, despite being asleep the whole time. The fire also destroys what's left of Neal's wallet and credit cards.
Their relationship throughout the movie is funny, but also aggravating. Del doesn't mean any harm, but it seems he can't help it. Even though he causes trouble, you can't help but love him.
A fairly famous line (in my opinion) comes from this movie as well: "You wanna hurt me? Go right ahead if it makes you feel any better. I'm an easy target. Yeah, you're right, I talk too much. I also listen too much. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you... but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I'm not changing. I like... I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. 'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get."
This quote comes from Del, after Neal just ripped him a new one after their first very long day together. I've always liked this quote, and kind of live by it too, always have. I like me, and I'm not changing myself, who I like, for anyone or anything.
Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, you need to go watch it now.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is the 10th prime-time animated television special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. It originally aired the CBS network on November 20, 1973. Except for the opening football gag, it is the first Peanuts TV special to have a completely original script without relying on the strip.
Plot: Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends over to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving, and with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he attempts to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner.
Another classic. If you didn't watch the other movie, fine, but if you haven't seen A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving the television special, are you even human?
Charlie Brown always gets the short stick. I don't know why all the Peanuts characters pick on Charlie Brown when he seems to be a nice kid, but at least in this special they come together and eat his food. Haha! Honestly, this is probably the best they treat Charlie Brown in all the specials. I always felt bad for that poor kid.
Everyone invites themselves over to Charlie Brown's house for Thanksgiving dinner and expect him to have a normal Thanksgiving dinner prepared. What? When they don't get a normal Thanksgiving dinner, they get mad, so Charlie Brown walks off. The gall of these kids! Luckily, they apologize and get invited to the real Thanksgiving dinner with Charlie Brown's grandma.
How their families allowed them to leave on Thanksgiving and go to a friend's house is a mystery to me. But boy, oh boy, does Charlie Brown not deserve what he gets from his friends. He deserves so much better.
That's it for this week! What were your thoughts? Feel free to share them with us! You can call us, email us, visit us at the office, leave us a comment or message on Facebook, or even mail us something. Keep the comments, suggestions, questions, submissions, etc. coming our way! We'd love to hear from you!
