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Lost in America

Play trailer Poster for Lost in America R Released Feb 8, 1985 1h 31m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 40 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
After being snubbed at his advertising job, Los Angeles yuppie David Howard (Albert Brooks) convinces his wife, Linda (Julie Hagerty), to quit her job and join him on a cross-country road trip. The two liquidate their assets and leave the West Coast in a Winnebago, intent on finding themselves and discovering America. But during a stop in Las Vegas, the couple loses their savings at a roulette wheel and begins to see that their idealized notion of the American experience is terribly misguided.
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Lost in America

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Critics Consensus

A satire of the American fantasy of leaving it all behind, Lost in America features some of Albert Brooks' best, most consistent writing and cultural jabs.

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Critics Reviews

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Neil Jillett The Age (Australia) The script is rarely funny and often far too talkative, and the small amount of action is flat-footed. Brooks and his co-star, Julie Hagerty, do not show enough sparkle in their acting to make up for these deficiencies. Apr 4, 2022 Full Review Bob Thomas Associated Press Brooks, who wrote the script with Monica Johnson, is a highly original comedic spirit. Oct 22, 2018 Full Review Kirk Ellis The Hollywood Reporter Too often, things are simply too painfully accurate to be particularly funny. Still, it's hard to fault Brooks' resolutely adult intelligence, and Lost in America - almost in spite of itself, really - is easily his most consistently amusing work to date. Mar 19, 2018 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine These narcissistic yuppies thinking that they’re actually doing something bold is an amusing critique of the privileged upper class fetishization of the “freedom” of being broke. Rated: 9.5/10 Mar 25, 2024 Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Lost in America is unquestionably Brooks' funniest, most cynical, yet most insightful film, and the height of his wincing scenarios about disenchanted creatives. Rated: 4/4 Feb 14, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy There's a fantastic scene featuring a hilarious turn by director Garry Marshall. Rated: 3.5/4 Nov 1, 2021 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (200) audience reviews
Mason M An amazing film from Albert Brooks and a hilariously honest satire. Lost in America features Brooks's usual genius acting, directing and writing. The writing is the main highlight of this film, it smoothly goes across America and is entertaining every step of the way, with a genius ending. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/10/24 Full Review Marc Z This is a movie about a pre-midlife crisis. Albert Brooks and his wife are tired of their ordinary lives as white collar professionals. They are controlled and predictable and they long for more. When Brooks' career trajectory takes an unexpected turn he convinces his wife to do something bold and out of character. That bold move is to sell everything, quite their jobs, and travel the USA. Are they cut out for this lifestyle? Brooks is like a hardened Woody Allen. He is edgy and neurotic, but oddly likable in his quirky way. The strength of the film his interaction with Julie Haggerty. Gary Marshall is phenomenal as the Casino manager. This is memorable and has stood the test of time. Funny, but very thought provoking. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/17/23 Full Review Alec B A great assault on yuppie culture. I think the film could have afforded to be a bit longer, but that's a relatively minor complaint. Brooks and Hagerty are hilarious in this. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Albert Brooks stars and directs along with Julie Hagerty they play a married couple both striving for change from their usual lifestyle; the husband, David is dying for a promotion at his ad agency, the wife, Linda hopes to move into a new house not having to do retail anymore problem is he doesn't get the job and ultimately gets fired scolding at his boss so the new plan now is to 'get lost' in the beauty of America during a road trip while driving in an RV they have no destination in mind, not a care in the world, no giant goals to think about Freaking love Albert Brooks and Julie Hagerty. Clever satire of the American dream dropping all worries and responsibilities. Could've used more destination hopping but the epilogue was quite funny. Lots of us want to see the true face of what the nation's made us being so confined and suffocated in our daily routines but there's always a chance to start over and go beyond it all. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/16/23 Full Review Taylor L Who goes out of their way to order a Mercedes with a brown paint job and a beige interior? Albert Brooks hasn't kept up in the popular consciousness as a writer, but he's plenty clever at it. Lost in America is a satire of satisfaction, with Brooks himself playing a yuppie who maintains a superficial love of liberty and possibility (mostly through movies) but who remains completely trapped by his own greed and is willing to get crushed under the corporate wheel as a result. When the opportunity comes, in a fit of uncharacteristic rebellion (but one fuelled by something as yuppie-ish as not getting a promotion), to explore a more liberated side of life out on the open road without attachments, Brooks' David and his wife Linda (Julie Hagerty) are met only with disillusionment. There's no real sense of American exceptionalism, the pair are governed by the same basic vices as everyone else, and eventually they come crawling back to the same dehumanizing system with hat in hand. The two make the hilariously heartbreaking decision that life inside the bubble, artificial as it may seem, is still preferable to the cold reality that there isn't much special about either of them. A fun comedy that is worthwhile as much for Brooks' outbursts as it is for his clever writing. (3.5/5) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Blobbo lost in Lost in America movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Lost in America

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Movie Info

Synopsis After being snubbed at his advertising job, Los Angeles yuppie David Howard (Albert Brooks) convinces his wife, Linda (Julie Hagerty), to quit her job and join him on a cross-country road trip. The two liquidate their assets and leave the West Coast in a Winnebago, intent on finding themselves and discovering America. But during a stop in Las Vegas, the couple loses their savings at a roulette wheel and begins to see that their idealized notion of the American experience is terribly misguided.
Director
Albert Brooks
Producer
Marty Katz
Screenwriter
Albert Brooks, Monica McGowan Johnson
Production Co
Marty Katz Productions, The Geffen Company
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 8, 1985, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 31m
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