- A near perfect odd couple comedy with both John Candy and Steve Martin giving perhaps their best performance.
- I think it’s the same John Hughes home alone house in the Chicago suburbs for martin’s family here- can’t be sure
- Near the opening there is a wonderful mini-film montage of Martin and Kevin Bacon fighting for a cap
- Just like later and weaker Hughes effort Uncle Buck the film ends with a freeze frame on Candy’s face. It’s a great shot
- Amongst Ebert’s great movies… “movie continued to live in my memory” after a generic thumbs up positive review upon first blush
- Memorable characters Del and Neal
- Instant sympathy for Candy—but he also grates on you so you empathize and get angered along with Martin’s character
- The “real article” monologue (pic above) with music is a stopper—it’s brilliant and absolutely cuts
- Martin is the perfect foil—sharing a room/bed with a slob, etc… so negative and Candy of course the eternal optimist—this is really close to the Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau pairing in quality of these comedians.
- The Ira Newborn score reminds me of the Ry Cooder score from Paris, Texas
- Perfectly tight 93 minutes
- Iconic luggage reoccurring in each set piece
- “mess around” by Ray Charles scene in the car is a comedic triumph for both Candy and Hughes
- Recommend/HR border
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