Thanksgiving is I understand, an important holiday Stateside with families moving heaven and earth to reunite with their loved ones over a turkey dinner. One man's thwarted (and then some!) efforts to do just that, going from New York to Chicago, pretty much sums up the plot of this entertaining and amusing John Hughes hit movie of the late 80's.
It helps of course that Steve Martin and the late John Candy are so good and more importantly so good together in the main parts, Martin the cussed city-man, sharp-suited and well-off, Candy the well-meaning but accident-prone oddball slob. Their successive air, rail and road trips, plus their stay-over at the worst hotel this side of Fawlty Towers are laced with humorous episodes, before it straightens up and flies right to its anticipated, all- inclusive happy-ending.
Funniest bits for me were Martin's post-shower towel options, the two of them frozen, sitting on the truck and of course the bed scene and in particular the realisation of where Candy's hand has been resting.
It's all funny, knockabout stuff, with both stars on fine form, Martin not quite able to give up on his basic human decency despite the strongest provocation and Candy irrepressible in his desire to please and buddy-up with his fellow-traveller.
While the holiday celebrated here itself may be exclusively American, the humour is universal and at times, perhaps deliberately, evoked the great Laurel and Hardy team of yesteryear, praise indeed.
It helps of course that Steve Martin and the late John Candy are so good and more importantly so good together in the main parts, Martin the cussed city-man, sharp-suited and well-off, Candy the well-meaning but accident-prone oddball slob. Their successive air, rail and road trips, plus their stay-over at the worst hotel this side of Fawlty Towers are laced with humorous episodes, before it straightens up and flies right to its anticipated, all- inclusive happy-ending.
Funniest bits for me were Martin's post-shower towel options, the two of them frozen, sitting on the truck and of course the bed scene and in particular the realisation of where Candy's hand has been resting.
It's all funny, knockabout stuff, with both stars on fine form, Martin not quite able to give up on his basic human decency despite the strongest provocation and Candy irrepressible in his desire to please and buddy-up with his fellow-traveller.
While the holiday celebrated here itself may be exclusively American, the humour is universal and at times, perhaps deliberately, evoked the great Laurel and Hardy team of yesteryear, praise indeed.