‘Lost in America’ (1985): A witty satire (review)

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Albert Brooks-directed 1985 comedy “Lost in America” follows 1980s yuppies David (Brooks) and Linda (Julie Hagerty) Howard. It’s a clever satire on culture with an exploration of leaving the 9 to 5 grind in pursuit of happiness and exploration. With Brooks directing, starring, and co-writing alongside Monica Johnson, it’s a clever cultural critique of life in America.

Linda and David Howard seemingly live the American dream. The Los Angeles residents both hold stable jobs, own a house, and enjoy the pleasures of a comfortable marriage. However, they’re often caught up in minutiae such as whether they should have let the moving company pack for them, or what sort of interior color to get for a new car.
David fails to get an expected promotion at the advertising agency where he works. Instead, David is informed that he’s being transferred to the firm’s New York office. In a fit of rage, David insults his boss, and as a result is fired. Rather than approaching his newfound lack of employment as a problem, David views it as an opportunity to shed the shackles of a mundane life and explore America in a Winnebago. Together, Linda and David liquidate their assets, sell their house, and set out to escape from society, just “like in ‘Easy Rider‘” as David and Linda, but mostly David, frequently quote.

Unfortunately, the pair make it as far as the Desert Inn Casino in Las Vegas before disaster strikes. Linda gambles away their entire nest egg in a passionate bout of roulette. This ultimately forces the couple to settle into Safford, Arizona searching for work.

“Lost in America” intelligently lampoons society. The Howards begin as a fairly average, bordering on boring, couple focused mostly on their work and whether or not to spring for leather seats in their new Mercedes. It’s an infinitely relateable film with its onus on self-indulgence, avarice, and desperation. Throughout the film, Linda and David exhibit a reactionary quality which manifests in David’s anger at being transferred, the decision to drop out of society, gambling away their nest egg, and the panic to find jobs.

Much of the humor in “Lost in America” derives from all-too-familiar sentiments. Brooks crafts a film which is uncomfortably realistic and understandable, albeit exaggerated enough so as to prove comedic. The finale becomes a bit lost, and it’s decidedly anticlimactic. That’s entirely the dry, darkly comedic point.

A well acted film which defies expectations, “Lost in America” is wickedly funny, though at times admittedly, and subtly, grim. Despite its slow moments, “Lost in America” offers a witty societal commentary which is fun to watch.