Home/Episodes/Planes, Trains & Automobiles
‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ With Bill Simmons and Van Lathan
November 29, 2022 · Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987) · Comedy · Drama · 1:33:19
Categories
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsNeal has a home but chooses not to go there because it reminds him of his wife - he just moves around avoiding home▶ 23:48
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsTom Hanks — Tom Hanks was discussed as a possibility but was probably too youthful at the time - maybe Tom Hanks in seven years could have done it. Few actors could pull off being the everyman who's kind of a dick but still likeable due to career baggage.▶ 38:36
Van LathanSteve Martin — Agreed Tom Hanks was too youthful and hadn't shown his harder edge yet (before A League of Their Own). Steve Martin had a unique ability to look older than his age and could be both the clown and adult in the room simultaneously.▶ 38:59
Big Kahuna Burger Award
Van Lathanthe doritos paired with the tequila in the room when they're raiding the mini bar▶ 1:01:48
Den of Thieves Benihana Award
Bill SimmonsSays there's no scene stealing locations because it's all everyman territory with characters moving around, doesn't provide a specific pick▶ 1:02:08
Butch's Girlfriend Award
Bill SimmonsThe wife character and the family connection in general - lack of scenes showing him connecting with his family▶ 1:03:07
Van LathanAgrees about the wife character, noting the actress had her story cut from the movie▶ 1:03:41
What's Aged the Worst
Bill SimmonsAll the 1987 travel stuff - cigarette smoking everywhere, no cell phones, no apps, no Uber/Lyft, no Airbnb, traveling in suits, showing up 2 minutes before flights, no way to exchange contact info▶ 1:04:59
Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award
Bill SimmonsJohn Candy doesn't get the respect he deserves for his place in comedy history - he's at like 85-88% when he should be at 100%▶ 1:09:33
Van LathanJohn Candy was the most enduring of the three physical comedians (Belushi, Farley, Candy) from a body of work standpoint▶ 1:09:54
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsSteve Martin — Says no to Steve Martin's apex mountain being this movie, suggests it was late 70s when The Jerk came out when he was the biggest comedian in the world▶ 1:16:59
Van LathanJohn Candy — Uncle Buck for John Candy - says that's his apex mountain because he's carrying everything in that movie▶ 1:17:52
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsNeil's inconsistent money situation - willing to pay $75 for a cab but won't get his own hotel room; could have driven the burnt car but upholstery would be 130 degrees; they would have died of frostbite in the convertible; confusion about John Candy's black eye origin; not lost long enough for it to be a big ordeal - only 48 hours from Tuesday to Thursday▶ 1:20:09
Van LathanNeil's confusing money situation throughout the movie; St. Louis to Chicago is only 4-4.5 hours but they act like it's a 12-hour drive and much more time passes than should have; Neil punches Dell in deleted scenes which would fundamentally change the dynamic▶ 1:22:05
Is This Movie Better With
Van LathanSteve Buscemi — Steve Buscemi - he definitely has a place in this movie somewhere▶ 1:27:22
Best Double Feature
Van LathanPlanes, Trains & Automobiles — Planes Trains and Automobiles followed by Christmas Vacation as a Thanksgiving-Christmas double feature▶ 1:28:41
Movies Referenced (34)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road Trip (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 20 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 3:32 |
| Uncle Buck (1989) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 17 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 10:24 |
| Tommy Boy (1995) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:31 |
| Midnight Run (1988) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:06 |
| Home Alone (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | ▶ 24:49 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:49 |
| Sideways (2004) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:07:25 |
| Sing (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:00:32 |
| Smile (2022) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Van Lathan | ▶ 20:25 |
| Dumb and Dumber (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:22 |
| Scream (1996) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:07:25 |
| Total Recall (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | ▶ 1:15:12 |
Directors Referenced (2)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Hughes | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, The Breakfast Club | ▶ 7:18 |
| Mike Nichols | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | The Graduate | ▶ 52:49 |
Actors Referenced (16)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Martin | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 22 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | The Jerk | ▶ 2:16 |
| John Candy | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Van Lathan, Bill Simmons | Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs | ▶ 2:16 |
| Kevin Hart | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Ride Along, Central Intelligence | ▶ 1:14:06 |
| Dylan Baker | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Van Lathan | Revolutionary Road | ▶ 29:01 |
| Larry Bird | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | Space Jam, Blue Chips | ▶ 53:09 |
| Ben Stein | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Mask | ▶ 1:12:08 |
| Charlie Sheen | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Wall Street | ▶ 1:19:13 |
| Chris Farley | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | Tommy Boy | ▶ 1:10:55 |
| Idris Elba | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | ▶ 1:27:05 | |
| Kevin Bacon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Van Lathan | Footloose, Hollow Man | ▶ 5:51 |
| Kurt Andon | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:39 | |
| Martin Neil | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 1:23:34 |