The simple fact is that not everyone is going to like you, not even lovable people like Del Griffith. They might judge you based on appearances or on something they heard about you, whether or not it’s true. It could be they are jealous. Maybe you set the wrong tone and made a bad first impression. Whatever the case may be, you cannot let it get you down.
I Like Me
In Planes, Trains & Automobiles, we meet Del Griffith (John Candy). The guy is an obnoxiously loud, messy, shower curtain ring salesman who has no sense of personal space. He leaves his trunk in the middle of the sidewalk for people to trip on and he removes his socks to rub his stinky feet on the airplane. You love him all the same. Why? Because Del is unapologetically himself.
Unfortunately, if you are someone like Neal Page (Steve Martin), Del might rub you the wrong way. Not everyone is willing to accept people who are different than they are. They live with a sort of tunnel vision. That’s why it’s no surprise that Neal ends up saying some pretty hurtful things to Del when they share a motel room for the night.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
My Wife (Husband) Likes Me
Del knows that to be happy in life you have to make the most of each and every day. He knows better than anyone. You see, he used to have everything he could ever need. He wasn’t rich and it is unlikely he had a big house. What he had was a woman who loved him.
This is not to say that you need to be married to be happy. Not at all. There are many happy single people out there. It’s more about having a connection with other people. Whether it’s a spouse, a lover, a relative, a friend, or a co-worker, how you relate to other people affects not only your mood but your view of the world.
Someone like Del is more open and friendly with the people he meets while someone like Neal is more judgmental and closed-off. As you watch the movie, it is clear which character seems happier, or at least more in tune with who he is as a person. It is a relief when some of Del’s optimism rubs off on Neal, so much so that when the two share a bed in a seedy motel room, they wake up in each other’s arms.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
My Customers Like Me
Unfortunately, life deals Del a nasty hand. If you haven’t seen the movie (what are you waiting for?!) — SPOILER! — Del’s wife passed away. In his grief, he hasn’t been home in years. Instead, the shower curtain ring salesman takes to the road, meeting new people and making friends along the way.
People too often take things for granted in their lives, forgetting how fragile it all can be. You could lose your job and struggle to make ends meet. A doctor could diagnose you with a serious illness. Someone you love could pass away. Life is unpredictable. The one constant you have is yourself.
That’s what makes Del a surprisingly uplifting role model, stinky feet aside. You do not have to like his messiness or his quirky attitude, but you can appreciate his sincerity and hopefulness. He teaches you that it’s okay to like yourself. More than that, he inspires you to be kind to yourself and to share that kindness with others regardless of life’s circumstances.
People like Neal will either come to accept you or they won’t. They may refuse to see the big picture, like the time Del and Neal are driving on the wrong side of the highway.
Neal: He says we’re going the wrong way…
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
Del: Oh, he’s drunk. How would he know where we’re going?
I think we can agree it is best to avoid a head-on collision. So open your eyes to the big wide world around you and get in the driver’s seat. All you have to do is be yourself.
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