Lost in America (1985)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writers:

Albert Brooks (written by) &
Monica Mcgowan Johnson (written by)

Release Date:

15 February 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A husband and wife in their 30s decide to quit their jobs, live as free spirits and cruise America in a Winnebago.

Plot Keywords:

Directed By Star | Trailer Park | Travel | Motor Home | Unemployment

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Albert Brooks	...	David Howard
Julie Hagerty	...	Linda Howard
Sylvia Farrel	...	Sylvia, Receptionist at Ross & McMahon
Tina Kincaid	...	Model
Candy Ann Brown	...	David's Secretary
Maggie Roswell	...	Patty, Linda's Coworker at Broadway
Hans Wagner	...	Hans, Mercedes Salesman (on phone) (voice)
Brandy Rubin	...	Paul Dunn's Secretary
Michael Greene	...	Paul Dunn, David's boss at Ross & McMahon
Tom Tarpey	...	Brad Tooley, Ford Account guy from New York Office
Robert Hughes	...	Security Guard at Ross & McMahon
Raynold Gideon	...	Ray, Friend making toast at farewell party
John Di Fusco	...	Motorcyclist on freeway flipping the bird
Michael Cornelison	...	Front Desk Clerk at Desert Inn
Radu Gavor	...	Bellman at Desert Inn

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Geffen Company, The

Trivia:

In his autobiography, Garry Marshall (who played the casino manager) wrote that he was initially exasperated by Albert Brooks demanding take after take of their scene. But once he saw the rushes and realized that his frustration made his character funnier, he acknowledged to Brooks's comic sense.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When traveling back east to New York, they drive past a peach shaped water tower before going through Atlanta. The water tower is in Gaffney, South Carolina, two hundred miles north-east of Atlanta.

Quotes:

David Howard: [to Linda, after she has gambled away their money] If you pick up that Keno card, I'll kill you. I'll kill you.

Movie Connections:

References It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)

Soundtrack:

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

Great comedy, and quite an 80's time capsule.

Lost In America is one of those movies that I always meant to see, but never remembered to rent. A few weeks ago, I finally got a chance to see it, and I loved it.

Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty are perfect as the classic yuppie couple that decide to set out on the open road after a series of strange circumstances. Brooks' rave-out on his boss at the beginning of the film is priceless, as is his interaction with the unemployment office worker in the midwest... "I'll just check my $100,000 a year job file." Brooks is also great when he tries to reason with the casino owner, and arguing with Hagerty over her inability to use the words "nest" and "egg". "From now on, birds live in ROUND STICKS!!!, for breakfast, you will have THINGS over easy!!!!"

Most of the best dialogue and scenes are delivered from Brooks, but Hagerty is quite good as well, as the timid wife whos honest, yet HUGE blunder sets the tone for the rest of the film.

My only complaint is that it seemed about a half hour too short. When they decide to return to New York, I would've allowed one more wacky situation on the way back home, but it was not to be. It left me feeling that the ending was a bit rushed. But this is a minor complaint from a great film that deserves to be seen over and over.