Review of Lost in America (1985) by Aaron N — 26 Aug 2008

David Howard: He'll buy that boat from that stupid boat catalog he's been making me look at for the last two months, and he will crash that boat off Catalina Island, and he will drown and die and seals will eat him.

I'm a big Albert Brooks fan. From his little parts in movies like Out of Sight to a turn to voice acting in Finding Nemo and his various Simpsons characters, I find his comic sense hilarious. The movies he has written and directed himself I always seem to find to hit the right note.

David Howard: Shut up Brad! Your song stunk, I hate your suit and I could hurt you!

Here Brooks plays David, a yuppie living in LA making a lot of money as an Advertising Exec. For reasons only he could justify, David leaves his job and convinces his wife Linda, played by Julie Hagerty, to quit hers.

They develop a plan to liquidate all of their assets, giving them a large nest egg of money, buy a Winnebago and hit the road to find themselves and live off the road for the rest of their lives. However, this plan is almost immediately thwarted when Linda gambles away all of the nest egg in one night in Las Vegas.

David Howard: Why didn't you tell me when we got married that you were this horrible gambling addict? It's like when you have a venereal disease - you tell somebody!

Linda Howard: I've only gambled twice in my life... This was the second time.

With very, very few options, David and Linda must figure out what to do.

The plot certainly isn't taken to its fullest by the time it reaches the end, but the movie is very funny throughout. It once again comes down to Brooks' presentation of his comedic sense. It also helps that Hagerty is a great foil to Brooks' character, as well as a great scene between Brooks and Gary Marshall.

The movie is very funny throughout and a good look at a twist on 80s yuppie life.

[at Hoover Dam].

David Howard: Nice dam, huh? Do you want to go first, or should I?