• 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