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The Couch Trip (1988)

R | | Comedy | 15 January 1988 (USA)
The Couch Trip Poster
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. ... See full summary »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... John W. Burns, Jr.
... Donald Becker
... George Maitlin
... Laura Rollins
... Harvey Michaels
... Vera Maitlin
... Lawrence Baird
... Perry Kovin
... Robin
... Lopez
... Watkins
... Unger
... Dr. Smet
... Hendricks
... Mrs. Blair
See full cast »
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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... Written by Tony Kessen <rhkessen@cs.vu.nl> typos corrected by Hikari

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | impersonation | mental patient | radio | pantyhose | See All (26) »

Taglines:

A comedy of truly loony proportions.

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

MGM [United States]

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

15 January 1988 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Der Couch-Trip  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,005,304
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Donna Dixon and Dan Aykroyd are married. They tied the knot after working together on Doctor Detroit (1983), and also appeared in Spies Like Us (1985), as did Chevy Chase, who cameos in this movie. Aykroyd and Dixon also appeared in Exit to Eden (1994) and the fourth segment in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983). See more »

Goofs

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

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.
See more »

Connections

References The Wild One (1953) See more »

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.
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User Reviews

 
AKYROYD'S BEST MOVIE!
29 May 2001 | by – See all my reviews

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
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