The Dream Team (1989)

Director:

Howard Zieff

Writers (WGA):

Jon Connolly (written by) &
David Loucka (written by)

Release Date:

7 April 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

This morning they were playing ping-pong in the hospital rec room. Now they're lost in New York and framed for murder. This was never covered in group therapy.

Plot:

Dr. Weitzman works with patients in a sanitarium. Convinced that all that his "group" needs is a some fresh air and some time away from the sanitarium...

Plot Keywords:

Patient | New York City | Murder | New York | Van

Cast

Michael Keaton	...	Billy Caufield
Christopher Lloyd	...	Henry Sikorsky
Peter Boyle	...	Jack McDermott
Stephen Furst	...	Albert Ianuzzi
Dennis Boutsikaris	...	Dr. Weitzman
Lorraine Bracco	...	Riley
Milo O'Shea	...	Dr. Newald
Philip Bosco	...	O'Malley
James Remar	...	Gianelli
Bill Goffi	...	Singer / Accordionist
Jack Duffy	...	Bernie
Brad Sullivan	...	Sgt. Vincente
Larry Pine	...	Canning
Harold Surratt	...	Pastor Lester
Kenneth Raybourne	...	Gospel Musician

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #29666) | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | Netherlands:AL | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

151 Central Park West, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: As the van pulls out of the hospital grounds, no traffic is passing in either direction, and the only traffic control is a small portable STOP sign at the guard's booth. But when the van enters the public road, it passes a long line of vehicles that have obviously been held up for the film production.

Quotes:

Jack: I fear my doctor may have been seized by the Romans!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Diff'rent Strokes' (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

HIT THE ROAD JACK

Lunatics On The Loose

This was a humorous film about a small group of mental patients who are let loose in New York City for a day. They are "Jack" (Peter Boyle), "Henry" (Christopher Lloyd), "Billy" (Michael Keaton).and "Albert" (Stephen Furst). Actually, they are taken to a ballgame and the doctor in charge of them is kidnapped there, after he witnesses a crime. The boys are are now on their own in a "lost in New York" scenario.

Mainly, this film is a bunch of sight gags more than a cohesive story. Boyle, Lloyd and Keaton are all, by now, well-known actors who bring a lot of life to their characters here. It's a lot of silliness but, for the most part, works and provides a lot of laughs. As a baseball fan, I appreciated Furst's performance best.

Peter Boyle ("Jack McDermott") plays one of several insane people who are "lost in New York" and are out on the streets having a good time. He is a "Jesus freak," which the screenwriters consider nuts, of course. He and other churchgoers are pictured in the movies as lunatics. Gosh, what a shock Hollywood would do that. They also have crooked cops in here - another shock.

The film still had a lot of funny moments, thanks to the actors and the interesting premise of mental patients fending for themselves in the big city. It's total lunacy.