The Couch Trip
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Ritchie
Written byScreenplay:
Steven Kampmann
William Porter
Sean Stein
Walter Bernstein
Novel:
Ken Kolb
Produced byLawrence Gordon
Starring
CinematographyDonald E. Thorin
Edited byRichard A. Harris
Music byMichel Colombier
Distributed byOrion Pictures
Release date
  • January 15, 1988 (1988-01-15)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$19 million
Box office$11,005,304

The Couch Trip is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. It stars Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin and Donna Dixon. It is loosely based on the 1971 novel The Couch Trip, by Ken Kolb.

Plot

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Alleged mental patient John Burns (Dan Aykroyd)[1] is sent to Dr Lawrence Baird's office (David Clennon) after causing a riot in the hospital cafeteria. Dr Baird receives a message from his secretary that a patient was in need of him. As Dr Baird leaves his office, coincidentally Burns intercepts a telephone call from lawyer Harvey Michaels (Richard Romanus), requesting if Dr. Baird could fill in for Dr. George Maitlin (Charles Grodin) on his popular radio talk show. Burns assumes Dr. Baird's identity and jumps at the chance to escape the hospital. With the help of Dr. Baird's secretary, he breaks out and picks up a waiting ticket at the Chicago airport.

Burns arrives in Los Angeles, where he is met by Dr. Maitlin's radio show assistant Dr. Laura Rollins (Donna Dixon) and escorted to the waiting limousine. He crosses paths with Donald Becker (Walter Matthau), a crazy faux priest who is collecting money to save plants. Becker recognizes the trousers Burns is wearing to be prison issue.

When the time comes to do the radio talk show, Burns is a huge hit, offering people free consultations and using profanity on the air. He even arranges for listeners to go to a baseball game at Dodger Stadium for free (where he also sings the National Anthem).

All goes well until Dr. Maitlin meets the real Dr. Baird in London, when they both attend the same seminar. They fly back to L.A. to try to find what is going on behind their backs.

Burns has been paid for the show (in cash) and is ready to leave town when he sees on the in-flight TV that Becker is on top of the Hollywood sign shouting Baird's name. Burns decides to go back and help to resolve the situation, where he is arrested only to be rescued on the way to the penitentiary by Becker and Dr. Rollins.

In the last few scenes of the movie, Burns gives his inmate number "7474505B" which is the same number that Jake Blues had in The Blues Brothers and Louis Winthorpe III in Trading Places.

Cast

Reception

The movie received mixed reviews.[2][3][4][5][6] It has a rating of 33% based on 9 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.[7]

Home media

Although the film was a flop at the box office, it did well on home video.[8]

References

  1. ^ "The Couch Trip". The Tomatometer. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  2. ^ Canby, Vincent (1988-01-15). "Movie Review - The Couch Trip - Film: 'Couch Trip,' With Aykroyd and Matthau - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  3. ^ "The Couch Trip Reviews". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. 1988-01-15. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  4. ^ Wilmington, Michael (1988-01-15). "MOVIE REVIEW : Dan Aykroyd in a Depressed 'Couch Trip' - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.
  5. ^ "The Couch Trip". 1988 In Film. July 9, 2015.
  6. ^ Pfeiffer, Lee (September 24, 2017). "Review: "The Couch Trip" (1988)". Cinema Retro.
  7. ^ "The Couch Trip". Rotten Tomatoes.
  8. ^ Hunt, Dennis (1988-07-14). "VIDEO CHARTS : Streisand Soars Over Dunaway, Streep - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2012-08-04.

External links

Films directed by Michael Ritchie
Categories