HILARIOUS!

This is one of the funniest movies that I've ever seen! Dan Akroyd is wonderful as the mental patient turned psychiatrist, and Walter Mattheau as his sidekick, the crazy priest, is absolutely hysterical. Donna Dixon as the psychiatrist friend of Dan Akroyd is ravishingly gorgeous. Even Charles Grodin, who's usually too glib for my taste, does a great job as the burned out psychiatrist. This movies has many wacky appearances by other Saturday Night alumni. If you'd like to lift up your spirits, laugh a lot, and put a big smile on your face then this movie is for you.

naughty, naughty

If you're into foul language and boredom, this is the film for you. Geared for the 13-year-old male, this lame duck tries to shock as well as amuse. It's all so dreadfully dull. My copy goes into the waste bin. Chalk up another stinker for Dan Aykroyd. Did Walter Mathau need the money?

An inmate who ran the asylum

In THE COUCH TRIP, a con-artist imprisoned at a Chicago psychiatric facility flim-flams his way out of jail, onto a radio talk show and into a small fortune.

Career felon John Burns (Aykroyd) has avoided "hard time" by feigning mental illness. The easy ride will soon be over though, for Dr. Lawrence Baird (Clennon) plans to certify Burns as sane and ship him back to the "pen." In Baird's absence, Burns takes a phone call in the shrink's office. It's from George Maitlin, a successful Beverly Hills psychiatrist and talk show host. Maitlin, who's much in need of a sabbatical, offers a man he believes to be Baird an opportunity to sub for him on the radio show, handle his practice for a few months and earn a large sum of cash.

Burns orchestrates an escape from the looney bin. Disguised as Dr. Baird, he heads to California where he immediately encounters Donald Becker (Matthau), a fellow con artist pretending to be a street preacher. Becker easily "reads" Burns and he blackmails his way into the sweet deal. Meanwhile, Drs. Maitlin and Baird accidentally meet at a European psychiatric seminar. Together, they fly home to find out who has usurped Baird's identity and taken (under false pretenses) Maitlin's $200,000.


Also recommended:
Charles Grodin co-stars in the charming fantasy HEART AND SOULS (1993) as one of four guardian angels. They've been cosmically attached to young businessman Thomas (Robert Downey Jr.) ever since his 1959 birth and their simultaneous deaths in a bus crash. Thomas is the key to their escape from Earth, so his angels make themselves visible to him.


Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 viewer poll rating found at a film resource website.

(5.2) The Couch Trip (1988) - Dan Akyroyd/Walter Matthau/Charles Grodin/Donna Dixon/David Clennon/Mary Gross/Victoria Jackson (uncredited: Chevy Chase)

Doctor Baird?

This is a funny movie that had me chuckling along with it most of the way. Walter Matheau seemed a little superfluous until the end of the movie however (hard to believe as a crazy man). Grodin was dry, wry and hilarious - until he went over the top in the end. And Dan Akroyd did a great job. One of his best I'd have to say. A fun little movie that entertains.

will tickle your funny bone

Was never a fan of Sat. Night Live & never followed Dan A.'s career, etc., but here, in this comedy flick, the guy is just about perfect in the role and as hilarious as they come. What I love about his take on the part is that he plays it straight, poker-faced all the way--and never, ever DELIBERATELY goes for laughs--and it had me in stitches the entire time.

Re: supporting cast: from the gorgeous Donna Dixon to the always solid Walter Mathau (and everyone else in this terrific comedy) give Mr. Aykroyd the support he needs.