The Couch Trip (1988)

I love this movie so much

To me, this movie is perfection.

Fresh and Exciting

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Dan Aykroyd has fun in a fast talking con man role in this reasonably amusing but never uproarious comedy. He plays John W. Burns, Jr., a criminal who faked insanity in order to get a somewhat cushier life inside a mental institution. Burns runs amok at this place, getting it on with the secretary (Victoria Jackson) and making life miserable for his stuffy, hostile psychiatrist (David Clennon). One day he intercepts a phone call to Clennon, who's been selected to temporarily fill in for a hot shot L.A. pop psychiatrist (Charles Grodin) who's suffering from lots of stress. He pretends to be Clennon, and the hilarity ensues as he keeps up the charade in front of Grodins' associates, played by the likes of Richard Romanus, Donna Dixon (the lovely real life Mrs. Aykroyd), and Arye Gross.You know you can't go completely wrong with a cast such as this. Everybody plays their role to the hilt, whether it's Clennon as a guy we'll love to hate, the perfectly chosen Grodin in peak grumpy form, Arye Gross as a pathological ass kisser, or Mary Gross as Grodin's wife. Aykroyd is amiable and charming and as good at ever at getting lots of dialogue out quickly. Good character actors add to the enjoyment: Mickey Jones, J.E. Freeman, David Wohl, Michael Ensign, Charles Levin, Scott Thomson, Don Stark, and others. But you have to pay close attention to catch a cameo by Chevy Chase, who'd acted for director Michael Ritchie in one of his most successful vehicles, "Fletch". It's also a joy to see veteran Walter Matthau in one of his more carefree roles, as a self styled oddball who realizes Aykroyd's secret and attempts to blackmail him.The plotting is kind of standard, as we see the highly unorthodox and tactless Aykroyd actually become a real hit on the air while filling in for Grodin. This, however, leads to one of the better gags in the picture as Aykroyd thinks he's found the solution to following through on his promise of free therapy to Grodin's patients. The R rating does allow for some well timed (but not excessive) use of profanity - that actually made it into the trailer!Six out of 10.

Dan Ackroyd in his prime stars as Johgn Burns, a mental asylum escapee who poses as his own shrink to travel out to La La Land and host a popular radio talk show while the regular host (Charle Grodin in his snarling prime) takes a vacation. Along the way, Ackroyd hooks up with Walter Matthau, a fellow nutjob, and the rest is sheer hilarity. Ackroyd and Matthau play off very well off one another. Ackroyd's stunning real-life wife, Donna Dixon, is along for the ride as yet another shrink. The ending feels a bit rushed and contrived, which is the only thing that keeps me from giving this film my top rating, an 8. A lost '80s gem.

This was a good and enjoyable 'silly' comedy, that is filled with a whole bunch of crazy fun characters. A typical great '80's comedy, with also some great '80's comedy stars in it.The movie is truly uplifted by its cast. Dan Aykroyd is really great. It's funny but I don't I've ever seen him play the main character before in a comedy. I already always liked him as the sidekick but with this movie he proofs that he can also handle a comedy in which he plays the main character. The movie also further more features Charles Grodin and Walter Matthau, among others. Esepcially Charles Grodin is also great as the stressed out psychiatrist. Walter Matthau seems a bit out of place, since his character doesn't serve a significant enough purpose in the movie, comical-wise.The concept and the story show great comedy potential. An escaped 'menthal' patient takes the place of a psychiatrist. He and his radio show become an huge success. But of course soon things are starting to go crazy again when people start to see through his scam and the real psychiatrists shows up. It provides the movie with some great silly moments and some real great laughs. The movie made me laugh out loud at times, due to how silly it all became at times.But things start to get really crazy toward the ending of the movie, in a not so positive way. The movie tries to put way too much in the ending, both comically and dramatic/morally. The movie gets very crazy and unbelievable and things get rushed way too hard. Even the characters start to not work out as good anymore. The movie tries too hard but it simply fails. The ending just doesn't feel right and satisfying enough. A shame, otherwise I would had surely rated this movie higher.A movie definitely worth watching for a couple of good laughs but it just isn't the best 'silly' '80's comedy around.6/10http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

Dan Aykroyd plays an inmate for the criminally insane who escapes a correctional facility. One day he took a call from his psychiatrist and accepts a job as host of a call-in radio show. Plans his escape to Los Angeles to report to the new job. There a lot of adult humor with no nudity. Not recommend for kids. Worth to watch.