The Couch Trip movie synopsis. Alleged mental patient John Burns (Dan Aykroyd), a former computer hacker, is sent to Dr Lawrence Bairds’ office (David Clennon) after causing a riot in the hospital cafeteria. Dr Baird receives a message from his secretary that a call was waiting for him.
As Dr Baird leaves his office, coincidentally Burns intercepts a telephone call from Dr Maitlins’ Lawyer (Richard Romanus), requesting if Dr Baird could fill in for Dr. George Maitlin (Charles Grodin) on his popular radio talk show. Burns assumes Dr. Baird’s identity and jumps at the chance to escape the hospital. With the help of Dr. Baird’s secretary, he breaks out and picks up a waiting ticket at the Chicago airport.
Burns arrives in Los Angeles, where he is met by Dr. Maitlin’s radio show assistant Laura Rollins (Donna Dixon) and escorted to the waiting limousine. He crosses paths with Donald Becker (Walter Matthau), a crazy priest who is collecting money to save plants. Becker recognizes the trousers Burns is wearing to be asylum issue.
When the time comes to do the radio talk show, Burns is a huge hit, offering people free consultations and using profanity on the air. He even arranges for listeners to go to a baseball game at Dodger Stadium for free (where he also leads the singing of the national anthem). All goes well until Dr. Maitlin meets the real Dr. Baird in London, when they both attend the same seminar. They fly back to L.A. to try to find what is going on behind their backs.
The Couch Trip is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. It stars Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin, Donna Dixon, Richard Romanus, David Clennon, Arye Gross, Victoria Jackson and Michael DeLorenzo
The Couch Trip (1988)
Directed by: Michael Ritchie
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin, Donna Dixon, Richard Romanus, David Clennon, Arye Gross, Victoria Jackson, Michael DeLorenzo
Screenplay by: Steven Kampmann, William Porter, Sean Stein, Walter Bernstein
Production Design by: Jimmie Bly
Cinematography by: Donald E. Thorin
Film Editing by: Richard A. Harris
Set Decoration by: Gary Fettis
Music by: Michel Colombier
Distributed by: Orion Pictures
Release Date: January 15, 1988
Views: 173