Fairly cleverly timed to coincide with the opening of the obviously derivative Due Date, this Friday’s late-night show of Planes, Trains and Automobiles is noteworthy as a reminder of exactly how good John Candy was. The brilliance of his performance here—maybe the best he ever gave, certainly the best role John Hughes ever wrote—is in its underplaying; Candy knows his sloppy girth gains humor and pathos the less he pads it with tomfoolery. Just the thought of him settling to sleep in a burned-out car makes me smile. He’s the real article. What you see is what you get. Bagdad, 11 pm Friday, Nov. 5.
- Best paired with: Terminator Stout.
- Also showing: Fargo (Laurelhurst), Get Low (Academy, Laurelhurst).
