The Couch Trip (1988)

Based on the novel by Ken Kolb, Michael Ritchie's comedy THE COUCH TRIP poses the theory that psychiatrists are even more screwed up than their clients. The story concerns Dr. George Maitlin (Charles Grodin), a stuffy, pretentious radio shrink who decides to take a sabbatical after his own mental breakdown. Before leaving for London, he orders the station to hire a hapless replacement so that his eventual return will be all the more welcome. When they try to get in contact with a Dr. Baird, the individual who answers the phone assumes the doctor's identity and takes his new position behind the microphone. It turns out that the new Dr. Baird is actually an escaped mental patient, John Burns (Dan Aykroyd), a straight talker whose to-the-point advice turns him into an overnight sensation. While this is happening, Burns befriends Donald Becker (Walter Matthau), a panhandler who's fed up with the insanity of society. Just when Burns fears that his hot streak is about to hit a snag, Becker's disgust with the world reaches a peak, leading him to the top of the Hollywood sign, where he plans to silence himself forever. Ritchie's film features hilarious performances from his veteran trio.