The Couch Trip, released on Jan.15, 1988, is a hilarious and surprisingly insightful comedy that showcases Dan Aykroyd‘s comedic genius.
Aykroyd plays John Burns, a career criminal who fakes insanity to escape prison and ends up posing as renowned psychiatrist Dr. Lawrence Baird, who fills in for Dr. George Maitlin (Charles Grodin) on his popular radio talk show. He proceeds to offer free consultations on the show and mixes in profanity over the air.
The film is packed with Aykroyd’s signature brand of quirky humor, with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and witty dialogue.
Walter Matthau as a homeless eccentric who is collecting money to save plants and recognizes Burns’ pants as prison-issued.
Walter Matthau adn Dan Aykroyd in The Couch Trip (Photo/Orion Pictures)
Charles Grodin stands out as the psychiatrist Maitlin, who meets the real Dr. Baird in London and immediately heads back to Los Angeles.
Donna Dixon, Richard Romanus, Arye Gross and Victoria Jackson co-starred.
Chevy Chase made a cameo as the ‘Condom Father.’
Michael Ritchie (Semi Tough, Fletch, Downhill Racer, The Bad New Bears, The Survivors) directed the film.
While the plot is undeniably far-fetched, The Couch Trip offers a surprisingly insightful commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of identity, mental health, and the search for meaning.
Reception for The Couch Trip
The Couch Trip grossed $3.4 million on its opening weekend, roughly $8 million behind the week’s top film, Good Morning, Vietnam starring Robin Williams.
The film would gross $11 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film two and a half out of four stars in his review, saying “What The Couch Trip needed was less of Matthau and more of Grodin, who is exiled in London for much of the story and would have been funnier at the center of things, trying to recapture his radio program.”
Legacy
The Couch Trip is a classic comedy that continues to entertain audiences 37 years after its release. It’s a must-watch for fans of Dan Aykroyd and anyone who appreciates a good laugh.
