Lost in America (1985)

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

Director:

Albert Brooks

Writers:

Albert Brooks, Monica Mcgowan Johnson (as Monica Johnson)

Stars:

Albert Brooks, Julie Hagerty, Sylvia Farrel

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Albert Brooks	...	David Howard
Julie Hagerty	...	Linda Howard
Sylvia Farrel	...	Receptionist
Tina Kincaid	...	Model
Candy Ann Brown	...	David's Secretary
Maggie Roswell	...	Patty
Hans Wagner	...	Hans (voice)
Brandy Rubin	...	Paul Dunn's Secretary
Michael Greene	...	Paul Dunn
Tom Tarpey	...	Brad Tooley
Robert Hughes	...	Security Guard
Raynold Gideon	...	Ray
John Di Fusco	...	Motorcyclist
Michael Cornelison	...	Front Desk Clerk
Radu Gavor	...	Bellman

Storyline

David and Linda Howard are successful yuppies from LA. When he gets a job disappointment, David convinces Linda that they should quit their jobs, liquidate their assets, and emulate the movie Easy Rider, spending the rest of their lives travelling around America...in a Winnebago! (This is a kind of large, luxurious mobile home which suits a 1980's yuppie more than the counterculture dropout approach of Easy Rider.) His idealized, unrealistic plans soon begin to go spectacularly wrong.

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Plot Keywords:

crossing guard | travelling | journey | married couple | location in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 August 1985 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Perdidos en América

Filming Locations:

13400 Kismet Ave, Sylmar, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$10,179,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Geffen Company, Marty Katz Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was shot entirely on location except for only three days filming done on studio sound stages.

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Goofs

When the characters are supposedly arriving in New York, it can be clearly seen from the position of the Empire State Building that they are travelling the wrong way.

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Quotes

David Howard: Why didn't you tell me when we got married that you were this horrible gambling addict? It's like when you have a venereal disease - you tell somebody!
Linda Howard: I've only gambled twice in my life. This was the second time.

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Connections

References The Electric Horseman (1979)

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Soundtracks

It's You Alone
Performed by Gail Davies
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

Hilarious satire from masterful Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks and Monica Johnson have fashioned in their Lost in America screenplay a spot-on portrait of upper middle class malaise and its correspondent affluence atrophy -- and skewered it all with perfect vignettes of accomplished comic finesse. Most fans of this film -- and it certainly has a cult following -- will gleefully cite scenes ranging from the legendary "nest egg" speech to the job service interview as examples of terrific comedy, and I wholeheartedly agree: Lost in America is very funny. Brooks, who not only co-wrote the film but also stars and directs, only falters a bit when it comes to the overall pacing (I thought the section that opens the film spends too much time in Los Angeles before the couple decides to head out for the open road), but this is a minor complaint. Most of the time I am laughing too hard to point out any flaws.