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1980s Movie Tournament: Second Leg |
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| Planes, Trains and Automobiles | Coming To America | |
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After his business concluded in NYC, poor Neal Page (Steve Martin) wanted nothing more than to return home to Chicago in order to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Instead his trip home becomes a long drawn out nightmare. His original flight from New York's La Guardia airport ends up getting rerouted to Wichita. Once arriving in Wichita, he and his other passengers learn they are stranded. With no other options, Neal decides to share a room in a fleabag motel with Del Griffith (John Candy). Del, a shower-curtain-ring salesman and fellow stranded traveler, is a lovable oaf who is the polar opposite of Neal. Although Neal originally finds Del to be an idiot, they become friends thanks to their misadventures. Their trip home is riddled with crazy cabbies, broken trains, rental cars catching on fire, redneck truck drivers, oversexed bus passengers and a budding friendship.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles was John Hughes first attempt at a film not starring teenagers. John Hughes was able to create yet another amazing film to add to his repertoire. The pairing of John Candy and Steve Martin was magical. If only they could have starred in more movies together… Memorable dialogue: Del Griffith: 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. |
Akeem Joffer (Eddie Murphy) is the royal heir to the throne of Zamunda. Everything in his life has been planned for him which causes him to yearn for some control. When his parents (James Earl Jones and Madge Sinclair) present him with his bride-to-be (Vanessa Bell), he can no longer contain his unhappiness. Akeem refuses to marry a person he doesn't know and who has been mindlessly trained to obey his every command. He convinces his father to allow him to travel to America in order to sow his royal oats. His real plan is to find a wife who he can love and respect. He and his servant/friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) travel to Queens, New York in order to find Akeem's bride. The two, stripped of their pampered lifestyles, move to a dump in Jackson Heights and begin working at local restaurant called McDowell's. Akeem becomes smitten with Lisa (Shari Headley), the daughter of Mr. McDowell, and does what he can to make her fall in love with him for who he really is.
What's not to love about this film? Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall were brilliant (each played 4 characters in the film). According to a John Landsis interview, this was when Eddie turned into a prick in real life but he was still great in the film. I prefer to remember Eddie for his 80s performances rather the garbage he's linked to now (anyone else remember how shitty the previews looked for Meet Dave and The Adventures of Pluto Nash?). Memorable dialogue: Saul: Vat is this? Velvet? Soul Glo Ad Jingle: Just let your soul glo-feelin' oh, so silky smooth / Just let it shine through, yeah / Just let your soul glo, baby / Soul Glo! Randy Watson: Sexual Chocolate! Attendant: The royal penis is clean, Your Highness. |
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Contest Info
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