Review of Lost in America (1985) by Peter F — 27 Aug 2011

A couple abandons their life in the suburbs to head out on the open road until they lose their nest egg in Vegas.

There are some very funny moments in Albert Brooks's script. I especially enjoyed some of the one-liners like "There's no one here I could quit to" and "If Liberace had children, this [cheap bridal suite with heart-shaped single beds] would be their room." But Brooks's neurotic delivery loses its charm, and there's something too aggressive about it. Contrasted to Woody Allen, who rarely seems threatening, Brooks seems too edgy, too close to dangerous, so that we can't laugh because we're too busy hoping he doesn't hurt someone.

Julie Hagerty is, of course, hilarious. Her sweet voice and soft temperament make her a delightful contrast to Brooks.

I also like the film's main idea. It's a satire of the yuppies' obsession with "finding oneself" on the road a la Easy Rider, which is often referenced in the film. In the voice of an employment agent, who says, "You couldn't change your life on a hundred thousand dollars a year?" Brooks needles the generation with one of the cushiest births possible.

However, I thought the film moved slowly, and there were scenes that were meant to be funny - David's pursuit of his wife at the Hoover Dam and Linda's obsession with twenty-two on the roulette table - but they failed to be all that amusing.

Overall, Lost in America is a very good satire, but not all satire leads to hilarity.