One heart-stealing scene that cemented John Candy's legacy
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Planes, Trains & Automobiles
gbean2397 — 9 years ago(October 26, 2016 02:43 AM)
In the space of three to five minutes through one line of dialogue, John Candy, one of the funniest comedic actors we've ever had, managed to steal the audience's hearts just like that.
"
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. I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you, but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me. I'm not changing. I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get
."
Once he's finished with that speech, and you hear the brilliant piece of music score, you really start to feel for Del Griffith. He admits he's a bit of a dunce, but he chooses
not
to suppress who he really is and act like "a cold-hearted cynic", in big contrast to his riding buddy Neal Page.
And you've got to love the wife subplot. He periodically brings up having a wife, and how long he's hadn't been home in years. At first you think of this as a passing mention. But as you piece it together, you realize that he's actually nomadic, and that his wife had actually been dead for 8 years,
so
gut-wrenching.
John Candy managed to do something most comedians nowadays seem to be unable to pull off: He showed a wide range of emotion, and in one five-minute scene managed to steal the hearts of the viewers. And that is why Candy's legacy will live on forever, remembered more so than the likes of Adam Sandler.
Peace out. -
Hey_Sweden — 9 years ago(November 16, 2016 09:27 AM)
Agreed. I once heard somebody put the effectiveness of that moment into words very well: Del is hurt, not offended. That's why our hearts go out to Del.
What do you think this is, a signature? It's a way of life! -
gbean2397 — 9 years ago(January 19, 2017 06:11 PM)
Oh absolutely Oscar-worthy. Speaking of which, I sometimes view Candy's role as Dean Andrews in
JFK
as a glimpse of what
could
have been, had he still been alive.
I think he would've been an outstanding dramatic actor later in life.