Best Christmas movies set in each state
By Reed Gaudens
Kansas: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Release Year: 1987
Directed By: John Hughes
Starring: Steve Martin, John Candy, Laila Robins, Michael McKean, Kevin Bacon, Dylan Baker, Luie Newcomb, Olivia Burnette, Larry Hankin, Richard Herd, Matthew Lawrence, Edie McClurg, Bill Erwin, Ben Stein, Diana Dill, Charles Tyner, Martin Ferrero
John Hughes didn’t just have a hold on coming-of-age movies. Between writing Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (among others), Hughes also had his holiday movie bases covered. Even though Planes, Trains and Automobiles, which Hughes also wrote and directed, is technically a Thanksgiving movie, it’s frequently recognized as a baseline holiday movie. Steve Martin stars as Neal Page, a Chicago businessman trying to get home for Thanksgiving with his family. However, he gets sidelined and must rough it on the road with stranger Del Griffith (John Candy).
While getting to known each other on the road to Chicago, Neal and Del hit a few hilarious rough patches and close calls, especially in their first stop of Wichita, Kansas. Planes, Trains and Automobiles earned overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics but only performed modestly at the worldwide box office. Thanks to its heart, humor and inimitable comedy duo, the film has remained a holiday classic throughout the years and will even be honored with a remake starring Will Smith and Kevin Hart. Over 30 years later and the holiday road trip comedy still takes all the right exits — even if Neal and Del don’t.