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Created Aug 05, 2016 11:59PM PST • Edited Aug 13, 2016 01:02AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Lost in America’s reputation exceeds its reality. Modestly funny in 1985, its four memorable scenes live on in the mind’s eye, but fail to sustain this mere 91 minute movie. Turns out its nest-egg wasn’t enough.

   Not that it doesn’t have a great line here and there.

   Don’t use “nest”! Don’t use “egg”!

   Plus a still useful metaphor for wishful thinking of the financial variety, as seen in the nearby video.

   Oh I know, you mean the $100,000 box!

   There’s also a notably unsuccessful negotiation with a casino boss, played by Garry Marshal no less.

   Yet even that handful of legendary nuggets get lost in an American comedy that’s more mild than wild.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Albert Brooks hit his career peak playing David Howard, big time adman hit the skids. Add in the fact that this hit movie was an Albert Brooks picture, written and directed by the star. Big time.

   Julie Hagerty underwhelmed then and underwhelms now as his wife. Hagerty’s run of major career success in the mid-Eighties continues to baffle.

   Garry Marshall delivered one of his few acting appearances as a savvy Casino Manager. Penny Marshall’s brother was much more famous as a director and as the creator of a decade’s worth of hit sitcoms.

5. Male Stars Great 4.0

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars Good 3.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Albert Brooks is more an actor than a director or writer. As a filmmaker, Lost in America is the best of the eight that he directed and ten he wrote.

    Love how he opens with Larry King interviewing big-time movie critic Rex Reed, who likes to watch movies alone. Even comedies. Rex Reed doesn’t want to watch comedies with other people. Comedies are best in a packed theater! Love that Brooks took such a shot at sourpuss Reed.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Very Good 3.5

    Born to be Wild kicks the film into gear, ironically so.

14. Visuals Good 3.0

    Safford Arizona, dusty streets with horses

15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.5

    Chaste

17. Sex Innocent 1.4

18. Violence Gentle 1.3

19. Rudeness Salty 1.7

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0