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->"''Strange, how much poignancy creeps into this comedy, and only becomes stronger while we're laughing.''"
-->--'''Creator/RogerEbert''', in his 2000 [[https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-planes-trains-and-automobiles-1987 re-review]] of the movie
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* Del's [[IAmWhatIAm rebuttal]] to Neal's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech, probably one of the best ever, especially because some of it is clearly Creator/JohnCandy [[EnforcedMethodActing himself speaking and not the character]]. It's even more of a gut-punch when he later reveals his wife is dead, and he's been reduced to the life of a homeless wanderer.
-->'''Del:''' 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. [[SillyRabbitCynicismIsForLosers I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you... but I don't like to hurt people's feelings!]] You can think what you want about me! I'm not changing! I like... I like me! My wife likes me! My customers like me! Because I'm the real article - what you see is what you get!
* After angrily forcing Del to sleep in the burned-out wreck of a car on a winter night, Neal looks out the window at him from his hotel room, realizes that he's going to freeze to death if he does, and invites him in, no questions asked. The two then spend the evening bonding while getting wasted on the mini bar.
* When Neal asks if Del loves his wife, Del wistfully replies that "love isn't a big enough word" for how he feels about her.
* Neal and Del sharing a loving embrace right before Neal gets on the train.
* The incredibly touching ending, where Neal takes Del home for Thanksgiving after learning that he is homeless and alone, and his wife has actually been dead for eight years. There's a strong hint that perhaps, after so many years of hopeless drifting, things may be about to turn around for Del.
* On the train, before he realizes what Del's true situation is, we get a lot of shots of Neal with his family, then shots of Neal laughing about his days with Del. Then the truth hits him.
* When Del tells Neal the truth after the latter returns to the train station, sad music plays as Neal looks down, clearly upset by what's been revealed. The scene then immediately cuts to the two men walking down the road to Neal's house, carrying his trunk, both smiling.
** Neal reuniting with his wife, who was close to tears when she has no idea where her husband was or if he was coming home and finally cries TearsOfJoy when they embrace.
** Susan welcoming Del, a complete stranger, into her house with open arms with no questions asked, only having her husband's word to go on. When Del tells Neal "You're a lucky guy," he's not talking about the nice house in an upper-class neighborhood, but the fact that he's married to such a loving, understanding woman as Susan. And when she greets him, you can hear in her voice how grateful she is that this man brought her husband home safely.
-->'''Susan:''' (''warmly'') Hello, Mr. Griffith.\\
'''Del:''' (''modestly'') Hello, Mrs. Page.
** Neal's family warmly welcoming him home at the final scene. While he might have been standoffish and uptight during the journey, it makes it clear that he's genuinely loving with his family. They also warmly welcome Del as their guest.
** Neal smiling and saying "Hey, kiddo" to his daughter when she opens the door for him. And she's ''thrilled'' to see him!
** This is also the only true act of selfless kindness that Neal makes. Prior to this, even the nicest things he'd done for Del were either in his own self interest to get as far away from Del as possible (giving him a free train ticket, telling him that they work better alone) or basic human decency (not making Del sleep in the burnt out wreck of a car, where he'd most likely freeze to death). Even after realizing the truth about Del, Neal could have just stayed on the train and gone home and never thought about him ever again, but instead, he invites Del, a man with nothing left to give, to stay at his house without question, not just as a sign of gratitude but because he wants to do something nice for his new friend.
** Before entering the house, Del clearly feels awkward about being invited and offers to just come in, say hello and leave. Neal won't hear a word about it.
** The final shot being a freeze frame of John Candy's wonderful smile.
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