PLEASE DO NOT REMAKE 'PLANES, TRAINS and AUTOMOBILES'.

Dear Kevin Hart, Will Smith and Paramount Pictures

It has recently been announced that you will be remaking the comedy classic 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' written and directed by the late John Hughes and starring the late John Candy and, the always on time, Steve Martin.

Please don't.

('If you catch me running off with my mouth, just give me a poke on the chubbs......')

This PETITION is a good-natured appeal to support the simple fact that there is no sensible or artistic reason to remake a perfect film that is still watched and beloved by audiences worldwide.  Kevin and Will; your combined filmographies include TWENTY-THREE feature films that are either based on pre-existing properties or are remakes or sequels ..and this figure does not include projects in the pipe-line. 

Kevin, in addition to 'Planes, Trains..' you have another HUGHES/CANDY comedy classic prepped for recycling, in the form of ‘The Great Outdoors’. Due to your keen interest in John Hughes' body-of-work, you must be aware that as a screenwriter his prolific output went unrivaled. Because of his insane work ethic throughout the eighties and nineties, most of the big studios have a wealth of unproduced Hughes scripts and treatments gathering dust in their vaults.

Does it not make sense to use your position in the movie industry to discover these forgotten gems instead of rehashing beloved classics that cannot be bettered? Would it not be the ultimate sign of respect for John Hughes, his work, and his millions of fans around the world to bring to the screen his unseen characters and unheard words? Rather than churn out yet another faded facsimile which will most probably garner the opposite reaction? Paramount, open the archives - let the boys go wild.

If the response to why you are remaking a still relevant film favorite is to give it a 'new spin' or make it 'your own', then it’s not 'Plane, Trains and Automobiles'. So, hey! Here's an idea? Don’t call it 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles' ('..but... I guess that's not gonna happen. Not now, anyway.').

If you truly have a deep affection for ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ then you will be aware that the original cut of the film had a running-time of four hours. If you love the film enough to remake it, then surely you'll be equally enthused to utilize your considerable finances and star-power to have this assembled, remastered and brought to the appreciative masses. Imagine that, more John Candy that the world has yet to see!

The basic logistics of modern studio filmmaking already means that a comedy remake cannot equal the cinematic quality of the original film. It will be the movie equivalent of pretending your butt-cheeks are a pair of pillows. So, why not do something that’s ..oh, what’s the word ..? Oh yeah, FRESH!

You are both supremely talented individuals who should and could help strengthen the dying art of original filmmaking and help stem the constant conveyor-belt of remakes and sequels that are overwhelming theatrical cinema.

Why not create something that can stand on its own two feet whilst not peeing on the memories of a legendary filmmaker, an irreplaceable comedy-star and a classic one-of-a-kind comedy that is very, very special to many, many people.

Thank you.

"'Cause I'm the real article. What you see is what you get."            - Del Griffith.  American Light and Fixture, Sales Director (Shower Curtain Ring Division.)