Am I the only one who didn't like the F-bomb scene?

I know this is old but it is not a family film. I love it too. Usually I am not a huge fan of excessive cursing or potty humor but in this movie it works.

I think that scene gave the movie that extra bit of oomf... Sure it makes you feel uncomfortable but you had to feel for Steve Martin's character at that point. Just thinking about Steve Martin ranting to Edie McClurg and that Minnesota/Wisconsin accent of hers... "How may I help you?" ...still makes me laugh out loud.

It was excessive not because of the f-word but at that point it just lost its value.

I personally thought there was no need for them to have Steve Martin's character cuss up and down to the rental agency clerk, if it wasn't for that scene this movie would've gotten a PG/PG-13 rating and I think this movie was more meant to be a PG/PG-13 rating film than an R rating film.

I do love this movie but I didn't think the F-bomb scene was necessary

Personally, I think you're over-reacting to this scene. It is the culmination of everything that Del has been going through while trying to get home, and just too much for him to hold in any more. This is the point that they are trying to make with that scene, according to the director. Keep in mind that it's the only time in the whole movie where the word is used. If someone was to make this movie today, it would be completely littered with profanity and nudity (somehow, someone would work that in to it.)

It's the best scene in the movie!

"Four f-kin wheels and a seat!" haha

Motown, get your Detroit jukebox jheri curl ass in this chicken sh!t chop-chop, ASAFP!

I saw this film on its release and I never understood that scene, then or now. I don't understand why he walked back to the airport. The shuttle goes in a circle, back and forth to the airport. All he had to do was wait for the shuttle to return.

First, no way this would get PG. It'd have been PG-13. That said, certainly from a marketing and profit standpoint, it might've been better to do that. But honestly, if a filmmaker cares more about the art than the money, screw it - let him do what he wants.

That all said, I do think it was necessary for a number of reasons:

1. It's so relatable. He's already had basically nothing go his way this entire journey home and I could certainly see that as being a last straw moment where you just go absolutely nuts. That's even before he encounters her.

2. She acts the perfect way to set him off like this too. Basically the absolute opposite of how he's feeling. And she's talking about Thanksgiving, while her company just kept him back from his. Talking on the phone for a while while he's standing there looking like a mess, doesn't apologize for it or anything and goes into standard greeting spiel.

3. That said, he was in the wrong for snapping at her like that, BUT that's Neil Paige. He was in the wrong snapping at Del earlier in the movie like he did, and he got it a hell of a lot worse than this lady did. Part of this movie is the personal journey he goes on to learn a bit of compassion and appreciation for the good things when they happen (which goes hand in hand with it being a Thanksgiving movie).

4. It leads in perfectly to the next scene, which is probably my favorite scene in the movie. He continues not taking even the slightest bit of $hi7 from anyone and needlessly insults that taxi driver and learns his lesson real quick. It wouldn't be real believable for him to say what he said to the guy if not for his massive tirade the scene before.

5. It also helps culminate all the scenes before it and makes that whole sequence from him finding the car isn't there through to his tirade truly amazing. The music, every part of his quest to get back to the rental office, the whole shot of how he looks walking into it, him standing there with a "*beep* you" look on his face...it almost wouldn't have been believable for him to not at least swear a little at her.

It's not a perfect scene, and certainly for more sheltered families, it might make them uncomfortable to watch, but welcome to the real world.

Honestly, as much as I've always watched it and Christmas Vacation with the fam during the holidays (being the youngest child in fam, I've seen both since I was around 7 or 8), both movies I've had so much more appreciation of when growing up. They might masquerade a bit as family movies, but they are pretty thoroughly adult movies which adults can relate to a lot more than kids ever could. I think Hughes wasn't afraid to put this scene in for that reason.