Who doesn’t love a good road trip movie? Everyone says that the journey is half the fun. Movies about these sorts of adventures sometimes offer the same fun and excitement.
Most of the following movies involve comedic circumstances that foil the main characters’ plans for reaching their destinations. For most of us, if we experienced a fraction of the setbacks these characters do, we would just give up and go home. But turning around would take all the Hollywood fun out of these movies!
In honor of Thanksgiving (and all the other upcoming holidays), here are my favorite movies that involve travel. Whether it’s a comedy, or a beautiful journey, or even a tale of self-discovery, these movies are full of delights.
National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
John Hughes wrote this movie based on a trip he took as a child. His family drove from Chicago to Disneyland. I love the idea about writing one’s own experiences for a film, but I would hate to think Hughes and his family endured everything that occurred here.
Chevy Chase plays Clark Griswold, a well-meaning, but not very bright family man who takes his family to the fictional Wally World. Along the road, though, they encounter numerous obstacles…and even a few omens! Most people would just turn around and go home, but not the Griswolds. At one point, he goes completely mad and tells his family that it’s no longer a trip, but a quest. This is one of my favorite moments in this hilarious road trip movie.
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles (1987)
Speaking of humorous movies, this is one of the funniest of all time. John Hughes, again, wrote this film based on his own experiences. This time, from a flight that was rerouted due to inclement weather.
Steve Martin and John Candy play Neal and Del, two strangers, both traveling to Chicago for Thanksgiving. However, things don’t go as planned – the pair endures a rerouted flight, a train trip that gets nowhere, and a rental car that catches fire. On top of it all, Neal and Del are complete opposites, which makes their travel even more unbearable (but hilarious for us to watch). I watch this movie every Thanksgiving.
Dances with Wolves (1990)
This isn’t necessarily a travel movie, but it is about self-discovery (a personal journey, if you will). Kevin Costner plays John Dunbar, a Civil War soldier who yearns for a post on the western frontier before it disappears entirely. Dunbar travels through many breathtaking landscapes before finding his new post: a small abandoned fort.
Dunbar eventually crosses paths with the Sioux nation. He is ostracized at first, but the Sioux learn that Dunbar poses no threat. He becomes a part of their tribe, learns about their heritage, and begins to identify with them. Dances with Wolves is one of the best films about finding yourself.
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Thelma & Louise is one of the most iconic movies of all time. It is truly original – and so memorable! Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis play the titular characters, who grow tired of being meek housewives. They decide to hit the road together and have a good time. However, their trip becomes even more of an escape after they commit a few crimes and are on the run from the law.
Thelma & Louise gives us some breathtaking views of the American Southwest. Filming took place in California, Utah, and Colorado. Even thinking about this movie wants me to go on a road trip (preferably without the “eluding the law” bit).
Tommy Boy (1995)
This movie is a laugh riot! It almost made my list of the funniest films of all time and it has plenty of hilarious scenes. I love quoting this film with other fans. I still miss Chris Farley – he and his talent left the world much too soon.
Tommy Boy is about Tommy Callahan (Farley) hitting the road to sell newly manufactured brake pads to keep his father’s auto parts factory from going out of business. His father’s smug right-hand man, Richard (David Spade), joins him on the journey. Together, they try to make the best of a bad road trip, particularly as Richard’s classic Plymouth GTX falls apart little by little each day.
Sideways (2004)
Every time I watch this film, it makes me want to go to visit the Napa Valley (the fact that I don’t drink is beside the point). It shows the valley’s beautiful scenery and gives an incredible peek into life there.
The film is about Miles and Jack (Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church), who go on a trip to the valley as a “last hurrah” before Jack gets married. Miles planned every single detail of this trip, but things don’t go according to plan. This film is funny and sweet, and I’m so glad that I bought the DVD on a blind buy.
Into the Wild (2007)
This is the true story of Christopher McCandless (played by Emile Hirsch), a young man who sets out to see the Alaskan wilderness. However, rather than flying or driving all the way there, he arrives with almost no worldly possessions. Christopher is tired of his privileged life, so he decides to destroy his credit cards and donates nearly every dollar he has to charity.
Christopher’s journey starts in Georgia and goes through South Dakota, Colorado, and even Mexico, all before arriving in Alaska. Along the way, Christopher encounters many free-spirited and blue-collar people, who teach him some life lessons. Into the Wild is, without a doubt, a story about self-discovery.
Away We Go (2009)
John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph star in this quirky dramedy about a couple looking for the perfect place to start a family. They play Burt and Verona, who are expecting their first child, and can’t seem to make ends meet. The couple decides to hit the road and visit their families and friends to get a feel for where their future home should be.
Away We Go is a great film about traveling and reunions with those you love. Krasinski and Rudolph are great together in this endearing film!
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a simple man who never really goes anywhere. He’s a normal guy, working at Life Magazine. The magazine on the verge of a corporate takeover, which would transition the publication to be strictly web-based. Walter receives the task of finding the cover of the last hardcopy issue. Walter’s photographer (Sean Penn), however, is constantly traveling and is hard to contact. Walter decides to break free from his normal life and go on an adventure.
This film is a delightful look at the experience of traveling for the first time. It always reminds me that the world is a beautiful place that is worth exploring. Walter goes from New York, to Iceland, and even to Afghanistan in hopes of finding the missing piece to his puzzle.
Chef (2014)
Chef isn’t necessarily about traveling, but a large portion of it involves being on the road. Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) is a down-on-his-luck chef who is trying to start his own business. While in Miami, he receives a rundown food truck. Carl, his son Percy (Emjay Anthony), and Carl’s buddy Martin (John Leguizamo) bring the truck back to life with some major repairs and hit the road back to Los Angeles.
Along the way, they stop in New Orleans, treating us to many of its historic sites, like Café Du Monde (I’m still a little jealous that my wife has been there, and I haven’t). They also stop in Austin, where brisket is a cultural staple. Percy’s knowledge of Twitter, and Carl and Martin’s expertise in the culinary arts get their business successful quickly. This is a feel-good film that will spark some wanderlust. Warning: You will be starving by the end of this film.
Happy watching!
The Top 10 Films of the 2010s - Ryan's Movie Corner
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