Am I the only one who didn't like the F-bomb scene?
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rikkirat — 10 years ago(August 25, 2015 01:06 PM)
I think that scene gave the movie that extra bit of oomf Sure it makes you feel uncomfortable but you had to feel for Steve Martin's character at that point. Just thinking about Steve Martin ranting to Edie McClurg and that Minnesota/Wisconsin accent of hers "How may I help you?" still makes me laugh out loud.
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shadowangel-599-184270 — 10 years ago(February 06, 2016 01:06 PM)
Sure it makes you feel uncomfortable
How the hell does a simple word make on "uncomfortable"?
What is it with you pathetic americans and your deep fear of the "f-bomb" that you have to censor it everywhere, cut it out everywhere and avoid it like the plague?
Being afraid of words is sad, extremely sad.
The scene is funny, that is all. It's meant to be funny and i bet everybody outside the United States of Bitches will understand it that way and not feel "uncomfortable". -
MichaelMovieLoft — 10 years ago(November 24, 2015 01:22 PM)
I personally thought there was no need for them to have Steve Martin's character cuss up and down to the rental agency clerk, if it wasn't for that scene this movie would've gotten a PG/PG-13 rating and I think this movie was more meant to be a PG/PG-13 rating film than an R rating film.
I do love this movie but I didn't think the F-bomb scene was necessary
I can take or leave the F-bomb scene. I do think it could have worked without it since it would have made the film PG/PG-13 and made it more marketable (It has a budget of $30 million and only made $49.5 million). On the other hand, I can see why it was left in to show Neal's frustration and how he reacts when things do not go his way. Even with the f-bomb tirade intact, it makes it a very soft 'R'.
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Hilwo — 10 years ago(February 07, 2016 12:01 AM)
I've always loved the scene and can totally relate to Neal. Enough is enough.
http://www.trespasser.nl/misc/pta/pta.pdfPlanes, Trains and Automobiles script
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jokeco68 — 10 years ago(February 10, 2016 08:57 AM)
Agreed, when you consider that removing the F-bomb scene, which was hilarious and very much relatable for me, would make it a pg-13 movie and then consider that a series like LOTR is pg-13 and the number of beheadings and vicious sword kills in those movies it makes a joke out of what should be censored and what isn't.
Life is always intense for a repo man. -
koala_t_98 — 9 years ago(May 24, 2016 11:39 PM)
Personally, I think you're over-reacting to this scene. It is the culmination of everything that Del has been going through while trying to get home, and just too much for him to hold in any more. This is the point that they are trying to make with that scene, according to the director. Keep in mind that it's the only time in the whole movie where the word is used. If someone was to make this movie today, it would be completely littered with profanity and nudity (somehow, someone would work that in to it.)
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bregund — 9 years ago(October 27, 2016 11:33 PM)
I saw this film on its release and I never understood that scene, then or now. I don't understand why he walked back to the airport. The shuttle goes in a circle, back and forth to the airport. All he had to do was wait for the shuttle to return.
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crooky-3 — 9 years ago(November 05, 2016 08:53 PM)
First, no way this would get PG. It'd have been PG-13. That said, certainly from a marketing and profit standpoint, it might've been better to do that. But honestly, if a filmmaker cares more about the art than the money, screw it - let him do what he wants.
That all said, I do think it was necessary for a number of reasons:- It's so relatable. He's already had basically nothing go his way this entire journey home and I could certainly see that as being a last straw moment where you just go absolutely nuts. That's even before he encounters her.
- She acts the perfect way to set him off like this too. Basically the absolute opposite of how he's feeling. And she's talking about Thanksgiving, while her company just kept him back from his. Talking on the phone for a while while he's standing there looking like a mess, doesn't apologize for it or anything and goes into standard greeting spiel.
- That said, he was in the wrong for snapping at her like that, BUT that's Neil Paige. He was in the wrong snapping at Del earlier in the movie like he did, and he got it a hell of a lot worse than this lady did. Part of this movie is the personal journey he goes on to learn a bit of compassion and appreciation for the good things when they happen (which goes hand in hand with it being a Thanksgiving movie).
- It leads in perfectly to the next scene, which is probably my favorite scene in the movie. He continues not taking even the slightest bit of $hi7 from anyone and needlessly insults that taxi driver and learns his lesson real quick. It wouldn't be real believable for him to say what he said to the guy if not for his massive tirade the scene before.
- It also helps culminate all the scenes before it and makes that whole sequence from him finding the car isn't there through to his tirade truly amazing. The music, every part of his quest to get back to the rental office, the whole shot of how he looks walking into it, him standing there with a "beep you" look on his faceit almost wouldn't have been believable for him to not at least swear a little at her.
It's not a perfect scene, and certainly for more sheltered families, it might make them uncomfortable to watch, but welcome to the real world.
Honestly, as much as I've always watched it and Christmas Vacation with the fam during the holidays (being the youngest child in fam, I've seen both since I was around 7 or 8), both movies I've had so much more appreciation of when growing up. They might masquerade a bit as family movies, but they are pretty thoroughly adult movies which adults can relate to a lot more than kids ever could. I think Hughes wasn't afraid to put this scene in for that reason.
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residentevil6901 — 9 years ago(November 23, 2016 07:36 PM)
I'm sure there are a lot of people who feel it was unnecessary but for those of us who love comedy no matter how crude it is we love it. It's so epic to me as it stands out as one of the most vulgar F bomb scenes in all of movie history. I like how it shocks you the first time you see it.
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mark.waltz — 9 years ago(November 24, 2016 08:45 AM)
It is hysterical because it is giving the finger, not only to "Perfect customer service", but to phony customer service as well. She's condescending to him, he is condescending to her, and neither people are predictably likable. Her eying him up and down like a bum is very true to life even if she is wretched as a customer service person, not only ignoring him but the huge line behind him. She purposely extends the phone call with obnoxious turkey impressions, then her cloying cheeriness turns judgmental with her attitude towards him from the start. But if I were in customer service and saw someone in front of me with a lemon puckered sneer, I'd be automatically on the defensive from the start. Taken out of context from the film, this scene can be both funny and thought provoking in the sense of how one area of the country automatically views others with contempt who aren't locals, and also reminds us why the customer isn't always right, even if they are according to some old hog wash business rule.
"Great theater makes you smile. Outstanding theater may make you weep." -
terripinder — 9 years ago(November 24, 2016 10:26 AM)
I also dislike that scene, and don't find it remotely funny. Of course, I understand the point that the director was making about Neil's situation; and I don't know how the same point could have been made in a less-offensive way. I don't have all the answers!
For me, the tantrum he threw in the rental car lot was enough, to be honest, and much funnier than his expletive-laden tirade at the counter.
I love the movie, though.