The Couch Trip (1988)

A burnt-out shrink needs a temp. A charming escaped convict takes over his practice and radio show.

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writers:

Ken Kolb (novel), Steven Kampmann (screenplay)

Stars:

Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dan Aykroyd	...	John W. Burns, Jr.
Walter Matthau	...	Donald Becker
Charles Grodin	...	George Maitlin
Donna Dixon	...	Laura Rollins
Richard Romanus	...	Harvey Michaels
Mary Gross	...	Vera Maitlin
David Clennon	...	Lawrence Baird
Arye Gross	...	Perry Kovin
Victoria Jackson	...	Robin
Michael DeLorenzo	...	Lopez
Mickey Jones	...	Watkins
J.E. Freeman	...	Unger
David Wohl	...	Dr. Smet
Michael Ensign	...	Hendricks
Carol Mansell	...	Mrs. Blair

Storyline

The escaped delinquent John W. Burns, Jr. replaces Dr. Maitlin on a radio show, saying he's the psychiatrist Lawrence Baird. His tactless radio show is a hit, and he becomes very popular. But then Dr. Maitlin meets the real Dr. Lawrence Baird at a congress in London...

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Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | impersonation | mental patient | woman wears a bikini | radio | 

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Taglines:

A comedy of truly loony proportions.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the symposium was the "Annual International Psychiatric Convention".

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Goofs

When Burns jumps from the building, his stunt man is easy to detect despite the angle in which the scene was shot.

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Quotes

Donald Becker: I know your sort. You're a malcontent, a misfit, someone who's never achieved shit in his life. Takes one to know one.

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Connections

Referenced in Freak Out (2004)

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Soundtracks

Fever
by Otis Blackwell (as John Davenport) and Eddie Cooley
Hudson Bay Music, Inc. on behalf of Fort Knox Music, Inc. / Trio Music Company, Inc.

User Reviews

AKYROYD'S BEST MOVIE!

Michael Ritchie's "The Couch Trip" is a wonderfully anarchic comedy about what makes a good psychiatrist. It is so subtle and wicked that you start to realize what a stinging satire it really is. It is also Dan Akyroyd's best movie, made in a particularly great film year (1988)for him. First, "The Great Outdoors" and now this.

Akyroyd stars as John Burns, a career crook who fakes insanity to escape prison. Now, a dumb comedy would just be about this. But "The Couch Trip" uses this as a springboard for everything else. Beverly Hills psychiatrist George Maitlin (Charles Grodin, subtly hilarious here)has a nervous breakdown and a replacement is selected: Lawrence Baird, who happens to be Akyroyd's psychiatrist! You can pretty much guess what's going to happen, but the great thing about "The Couch Trip" is not what happens, but how it is done.

"The Couch Trip" gives Dan Akyroyd the best role he has ever had. His John Burns is one of the truly original comic creations in movie history. Wicked one liners and physical humor are a part of it, but what makes it special is that Akyroyd makes Burns a lovable character. We root for him and grow to like him a whole lot during the 98 minute running time.

But Akyroyd isn't alone here. He gets strong support from other great comic actors. Walter Matthau joins the hilarity as a con artist minister who catches on to Burns' secret and commits genteel blackmail. Charles Grodin "slow burns" his way to another great comic role as the burned out psychiatrist. Grodin has been one of the most underappreciated actors in Hollywood. It's criminal they haven't used him more often. Richard Romanus plays Grodin's slimeball lawyer to perfection.

"The Couch Trip" is one of many films made by the now-defunct Orion Pictures Corporation that are currently unseen. MGM spent a fortune buying the Orion library but have yet to truly cash in on their acquisition. "The Couch Trip" joins "Dressed to Kill", "Blow Out" and countless others in gathering dust rotting in the vault. Shame on MGM for their inaction. Hopefully, with new management, "The Couch Trip" will find the audience and respect it deserves.

**** out of 4 stars

Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 January 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Couch Trip

Filming Locations:

Century City Towers, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,351,891, 17 January 1988

Gross USA:

$11,005,304

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,005,304

Company Credits

Production Co:

Orion Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1