COUCH TRIP

US, 1988, 97 minutes, Colour.
Dan Aykroyd, Walter Matthau, Charles Grodin, Donna Dixon, Richard Romanus, Mary Gross, Arye Gross, David Clennon.
Directed by Michael Ritchie.

Couch Trip is a broad satire from director Michael Ritchie who made more pungent satires in the past, such as The Candidate, Smile. During the 1980s he directed more conventional material like The Golden Child, Wildcats. H had worked with Walter Matthau in The Bad News Bears.

This film is about psychiatrists. They are fair game for satire, especially those in the public eye through the media. Charles Grodin portrays one of the most neurotic that you can see. And his understanding and successful replacement turns out to by asylum escapee, Dan Aykroyd at his best. Walter Matthau hovers more lugubriously (though funny) than ever. While the comedy ingredients are good, there are some laughs. But by the time the film ends, we realise that it is amusing but patchy.

1. Entertaining comedy, psychiatrists, confidence tricksters? Confusion and identity?

2. The Illinois background vs. Los Angeles? England? Prison? Institutions? The world of the media? The world of conferences? Musical score and songs?

3. The humour, the satire, attack, farce, wit?

4. The title and the focus on psychiatry? The credits and the overview of radio and television programmes giving psychological advice? George Maitlin and his style? Unctuous? Wealthy? His collapse, staying in bed for a fortnight, his snapping at his wife? His nervous breakdown and fear of communicating this? Discussions at the restaurant and listening to the waiter, punching him because of the tip? Behind the scenes? The frantic attitudes of the producers? Money? The replacement for Dr Maitlin? The need for money, public, ratings?

5. The introduction to John Burns: Dan Aykroyd and his style, sex with the doctor's assistant, clashes with Dr Lawrence Baird? Lotga on the ledge and Dr Baird's trying to persuade him to come off, Burns' success - and his high dive? The power struggle between the two? The interview and his transfer? Straightjacketed but eating the sweet? The chance phone call, answering it, the detail of arranging his escape, his mimicry, help from the girl? To the airport, the flight and his attracting the flight staff?

6. Lawrence Baird and his style, trying to persuade Lopez, using technical jargon? Caught up in vengeance? The interview and his dominance of Burns? Going to England, encountering Maitlin, the truth? The return, Maitlin aggravated by him? Locked in and locking the security guard in? The attack, in the padded cell? The doctors using his own techniques on him? The satire on the ill-educated psychologist?

7. Maitlin and Vera, in bed, the breakdown, Vera and her shopping? The plans for the replacement? Harvey Michaels - and the revelation of his affair with Vera, and his being caught by the producer? Maitlin, carry-on in England? The news of Vera's infidelity and the irony of the way she told it, truth? His anger, the return, exasperated with Maitlin? The gun, mad, the speech, the chase, his carry-on? The breakdown and his being interned?. Charles Grodin's satire on psychiatrists?

8. Burns becoming Lawrence Baird, the money and the ticket, his smooth style, the arrival, with the doctor and persuading her of his credentials? Meeting Becker, concern, his skill at the radio, easing into the situation, the handling of the audience, direct and frank talk, their turning up and his taking them to the football stadium, singing the anthem, helping his clients, a group therapy? The bus? The woman barking like a dog? His big following? The importance of the money deals and his hold over Harvey and Harry? Enjoying himself?

9. Becker and his madness, at the airport, concern about conservation, dressed as a clergyman? His hounding Burns? The arrest, recognising the truth about Burns, the confrontation, being his companion, accompanying him, money, the Mexico ticket, decision to go on to the Hollywood sign? Rescue, his being freed, helping with the escape at the end? A Walter Matthau character?

10. The doctor and her disbelief, interest, falling in love, disillusioned, helping with the escape?

11. Burns and his sanity and insanity, work, jokes, the plan, Becker, the speech and the award, engineering his escape, the plane, his return and the heroism in rescuing Becker, helping him free, the farcical happy ending?

12. American comedy and satire?