Overview
All Neal Page (Steve Martin) wants to do is make it home from a business trip in New York City and spend Thanksgiving with his family in Chicago. Instead, he finds himself rerouted from New York's La Guardia Airport to Wichita, Kansas. With no other options, Neal decides to share a room in a fleabag hotel with Del Griffith (John Candy), a shower-curtain-ring salesman and fellow stranded traveler. Although Neal finds Del to be a buffoon, he just can't seem to get away from him. To make matters worse, all their efforts to get back to Chicago fail as trains break down and rental cars catch on fire. Along the way they encounter crazy cabbies, redneck truck drivers, and oversexed bus passengers. John Hughes's (SIXTEEN CANDLES, THE BREAKFAST CLUB) first film to feature adults after his success with teen films features fine performances from Martin and Candy. Kevin Bacon, who appeared in Hughes's next film, SHE'S HAVING A BABY, makes a small but humorous appearance, as does Edie McClurg, known for her role as the high school secretary in FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF.
Awards:
Main Cast & Crew:
John Hughes - Director
Steve Martin
John Candy
Laila Robbins
Michael McKean
Kevin Bacon
Dylan Baker
William Windom
Edie McClurg
Details
- Format: DVD
- Run Time: 93
- Color Format: Color
- UPC: 032429305251
- Genre: Comedy
- Rating: R (MPAA)
- Release Date: November 2000

Movie Reviews
Synopsis:
An advertising executive who just wants to fly home to spend Thanksgiving with his family is stuck with a loud but lovable salesman during an unbelievable succession of blizzards, transfers, strikes, and delays.
Notes:
Theatrical release: November 27, 1987.
Filmed in New York, NY; Chicago, IL; California; and Missouri.
Reviews:
"...An effective nightmarish comedy....Steve Martin and John Candy repeatedly recall a contemporary Laurel & Hardy..." - 11/25/1987 Variety
"...There is no denying the craft of either Martin or Candy..." - 11/25/1987 Los Angeles Times, p.C1
"...It is perfectly cast and soundly constructed, and all else flows naturally..." - 11/12/2000 Chicago Sun-Times, p.3
