The Couch Trip (1988)
- Starring:
- Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, (more)
- Director(s):
- Michael Ritchie
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R
Member Rating
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Michael Ritchie's The Couch Trip follows a long line of Hollywood films (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Disorderly Orderly) in which the psychos are seen as saner than the psychiatrists. Charles Grodin plays Dr. George Maitlin, a pompous radio self-help guru, who is having his own personal mental breakdown. Maitlin's lawyer puts in a call to a Cicero, IL, mental facility and the telephone is answered by schizophrenic mental patient John Burns (Dan Aykroyd). Thinking Burns is a crony of Maitlin, Burns is offered the job of replacing Maitlin during his recovery. Of course, Burns accepts the job. Immediately jetted to Los Angeles, Burns meets panhandler Donald Becker (Walter Matthau) at the airport. While wearing the garb of a priest, Becker sounds off against the madness of societal conventions; Burns takes to him immediately and they become fast friends. When Burns assumes command of the airwaves in Maitlin's place, his words of wisdom are so obvious and commonsensical that he is an overnight sensation. Meanwhile, in London, where Maitlin is convalescing, he gets wind of Burns' success. With renewed vigor and outrage, Maitlin leaves his recovery room and hops on a plane back to Los Angeles in an effort to recover his radio show. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 96 mins
Complete Cast:
- Dan Aykroyd - John Burns
- Charles Grodin - Dr. George Maitlin
- Donna Dixon - Dr. Laura Rollins
- Richard Romanus - Harvey Michaels
- Victoria Jackson - Robin
- Jan Cobler - Woman at Party
- Michael de Lorenzo - Lopez
- Charles Levin - TV Reporter
- Scott Thomson - Klevin
- Johnny Sinclair - Clerk in London
- Corey Rand - Airline Clerk
- Carol Mansell - Mrs. Blair
- Jean Sterling - Woman at Baseball Game
- Tony Rolon - Bellperson
- Benbow Ritchie - Man at Baseball Game
- David Grant Hayward - Waiter, Loudon
- Robert M. Dawson - Person at Party
- Scott Weintraub - Continental Agent
- Charles Sweigart - Cop
- Susann Benn
- Beverly Archer - Mrs. Guber
- Tino Insana - Jail Guard
- Jerry Belson - Yuri V.O.
- Robert Hirschfeld - Night Watchman
- Michael Ensign - Hendricks
- Rick Garcia - Bellperson
- Walter Matthau - Donald Becker
- David Clennon - Lawrence Baird
- Mary Gross - Vera Maitlin
- Arye Gross - Perry Kovin
- Chevy Chase - Condom Father
- Kenneth Danziger - Clerk in London
- Mickey Jones - Watkins
- David Wohl - Dr. Smet
- Don Stark - Peterson
- Kimmy Robertson
- Donna Mitchell - Stewardess
- John Mahon - Police Captain
- Kevin Rooney - Cop at Hollywood Sign
- Jack Ritchie - Man at Baseball Game
- Neal Kaz - Cop in Maitlin's Office
- Linda Rae Favila - Maitlin's Secretary
- Myrna White - Policewoman
- Duane Tucker - Guard in Squad Car
- June Claman - Lady at Riviera
- Adrian Aron - Woman at Party
- Ralph Adano - Person at Party
- Jonathan Emerson - Hendrick's Assistant
- John D. LeMay - Dr. Smet's Resident
- Gloria Dorson - Ida V.O.
- J.E. Freeman - Unger
- Michael Gregory - Security at Riviera
- Director(s):
- Michael Ritchie
- Writer(s):
- Sean Stein, Steven Kampmann, Will Aldis
- Producer(s):
- Lawrence Gordon
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- R(Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Adult Language)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
