Favorite Road Trip Movies

Probably the pinnacle of director John Hughes and comic actor John Candy, two men whose careers were cut too short with the latter actor passing away in the early 90's and the former director passing away in the late 2000's. But the work onscreen is nothing short of perfect, in between brilliantly executed comedy are genuine moments of real warmth. The story focuses on an uptight but well meaning family man (Steve Martin), determined to make it home to Chicago from Manhattan in time for Thanksgiving with his family. But fate has different plans in store for him when he's blocked by every obstacle imaginable: crappy weather, robbery and bad geography. Only complicating it is the fact that he's inadvertently stuck with a well meaning but obnoxious slob of a salesman (a beautifully cast John Candy) as the two pave their way through every method of transportation possible for Martin's character to make it home. I really do consider this one of the finest comedies ever made, with a lightning-in-a-bottle casting with Martin and Candy in the leads. You just can't get any better.

Favorite Moment: Martin's character has a full on F-bomb laden breakdown at a car rental counter

Star Art Carney himself once said, that you don't want to associate your name with sewers, in referring to his eponymous role as lovable doofus Ed Norton in "The Honeymooners" show. Carney easily lived up to that quote in his Oscar winning role as a retired college professor and lifelong New Yorker, kicked out of his apartment building by developers. With his cat Tonto in tow, he sets out on a cross country road trip that has him encountering acquaintances, family and friends, both new and old during his time. Unlike many other films, this film is short on awkward drama and tells a reasonably wonderful tale about a man learning both about the world and himself.

Favorte Moment: Harry unexpectedly makes the company of a prostitute in Las Vegas.

A clear choice and obviously a literal one, as a college student accidentally mails a sex tape to his girlfriend, prompting him and his friends to travel from their school to hers. Many of the actors in this film, are at the peak of their film careers, anchored by Tom Green's pathetically old college student narrating the story. The movie certainly isn't short on the raunch, but I do see it as a throwback to the old 80's raunchy comedies. You might feel silly for having witnessed it, but I can assure you that there was at least a chuckle or two to be had.

Favorite Moment: The group makes the acquaintance of an all African-American frat house.

It was the perfect marriage of the stream-of-consciousness writing of late writer Hunter S. Thompson and stylistic director Terry Gilliam to work. Gilliam and company boldly adapt Thompson's trippy novel about a weekend of complete excess in the City of Sin through the eyes and voice of Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp), Thompson's alter ego as Duke and sidekick in tow (A wonderfully out there Benicio Del Toro in layers of fat) as they travail the Las Vegas landscape in a psychedelic, drug-fueled haze. The book is a strange read and you need to be in the right mindset to really read it, and to grasp it. Thankfully Gilliam translates the material well, and if anything, do justice to the book that other filmmakers haven't been able.

Favorite Moment: The pair find themselves at the Circus Circus casino...and face great difficulty in escaping from it under the heavy influence of acid.

Wes Anderson's 1996 breakthrough might be the least well known of his work to the average moviegoer, but that's not to say that this isn't a good film, which it certainly is. "Bottle Rocket" would only implement the auteur theory for Anderson as we see many of his trademarks here: moving camera shots, kickin' soundtrack, Owen Wilson, the dreamer leader archetype and familial dysfunction all rolled into the one. The story focuses on a miscreant trio, led by the the ever-so-determined Dignan (Owen Wilson), intent on establishing an outlaw image as they plot to break into a Texas storage unit. There's something very sweet about Anderson's characters, people damaged in some way, simply trying to make their way into the world.

Favorite Moment: James Caan's Mr. Henry, a seasoned criminal finally puts a bullying sibling in his place, at a country club, finishing off with the line "I don't mean to offend you, Bob. But your brother's a *beep*