Search: Starring Steve Martin

The runt of a bountiful litter.

Above and beyond the wonders of computer-generated artwork and a whole new box of tricks available to animators in the 21st century, one thing remains constant - sentimentality.

As a marketing devise for soundtrack sales it has possibilities

Meryl Streep looks more and more fabulous in each new role and is clearly having the time of her life here.

Shot in vivid colour and interspersed with some terrific songs, this is a formulaic story but a hell of a ride.

The plot flushes through your head faster than a pint of shandy.

The script is tight, the gags nurtured, the performances disciplined.

The sight gags are myopic, the running gags lame.

Although some elements don't work too well, namely the lacklustre, almost prosaic direction of Levy, it survives with a lot of positives, not least the return to maniacal form of its star, The Grey Haired One.

Steve Martin is actually quite good at times, but he's let down mostly by a wafer-thin script and misguided direction.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles is an eternal tribute to how great Martin used to be before he sold himself out to family movies and how wonderful Candy was as an actor and a person.

The film looks wonderful, but suffers from its own ambition.

Modest and beguiling.

The puzzle's in the pleasure.