The Dream Team (1989) Online
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, he persuades the administration to allow him to take them to a ballgame. Unfortunately, he accidentally stumbles across a crime in progress and ends up in hospital. The group is stranded in New York City, forced to cope with a place which is often more bizarre than their sanitarium.
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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 |
It is said before the field trip that one of the group has not left the hospital in twelve years. As the story progresses, the viewer learns that Billy (Michael Keaton) has been there for a year and a half and Henry (Christopher Lloyd) for two. Later, Jack (Peter Boyle) visits his old office and most people remember him, implying he hasn't been gone for more than a few years. This leaves Albert (Stephen Furst) as the long-term patient, the only one of the group, about whose earlier life, nothing is revealed.
Michael Keaton, who also starred in Betmenas (1989) opposite Jack Nicholson as the Joker, appears in this film basically playing a version of the same type of R.P. McMurphy character that Nicholson played in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). Christopher Lloyd, who played Taber alongside Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), co-stars with Keaton in this movie.
Of the film's cast and crew, at least two worked on One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), to which this movie has often been likened and compared. These were Christopher Lloyd and Title Designer Wayne Fitzgerald.
Some movie posters for this film featured a long blurb that read: "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. The Dream Team. Four guys on a field trip to reality."
One of two 1989 movies starring Michael Keaton. The other being Betmenas (1989).
Billy (Michael Keaton) jokingly tells the shopkeeper that he and his group are a special combat unit with the U.S. Marine Corps after some Libyan terrorists. This may be a reference to Atgal i ateiti (1985), where Libyan terrorists were after Christopher Lloyd's character, Doc Brown.
This movie's title (The Dream Team) would become the nickname for the U.S. National Men's Olympic Basketball Team three years after this movie came out. The name would be permanently associated with the basketball team.
In the music video for the soundtrack song "Hit The Road Jack", not only are there various clips from the movie being shown in the background, Peter Boyle and Stephen Furst show up as their characters Jack and Albert, dragging Buster Poindexter (David Johansen) into a red van like the one from this movie.
First of two movies released in consecutive years where Michael Keaton played a mentally disturbed character. The second film was Pacific Heights (1990), where he played a psychotic tenant.
One of two 1989 movies starring Christopher Lloyd. The other being Atgal i ateiti II (1989).
Michael Keaton and Christopher Lloyd appeared in Mr. Mom (1983).
According to "Time Out", "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) is acknowledged and dismissed in an . . . opening scene".
The place where the hospital inmates went on a day trip to see a baseball game was Yankee Stadium. The venue was closed in 2008 and demolished in 2010. The site where the sports arena existed is now parklands.
Jack (Peter Boyle) says, "Wah Wah Wah", impersonating the sound in a cartoon when someone gets tricked or outwitted. Working with the same director, Howard Zieff, in Slither (1973) (with James Caan), Boyle did the same sound.
The place in New York City, where the dream team mental patients ran through the rain covered under a gigantic oblong cardboard box, was Times Square.
At one point, Jack McDermott (Peter Boyle) says: "I was pulling down one hundred big ones a year when you and Satan were out chasing Daryl Hannah!" In the following year after this movie launched, Hannah co-starred with Dudley Moore in a psychiatric comedy of her own, Crazy People (1990).
The name of the mental health facility was "The Cedarbrook Psychiatric Hospital".
Principal photography started in June 1988.
Dennis Boutsikaris (Dr. Weitzman) has played many doctors throughout his acting career.
First movie in five years that was directed by Howard Zieff, whose previous movie was Unfaithfully Yours (1984).
All three characters that Michael Keaton played in movies in 1989 were all 'B' names, with first names beginning with that letter. They were Billy Caulfield in this film, and Batman and Bruce Wayne in Betmenas (1989).
This movie is the seventh of only nine feature films that were directed by Howard Zieff.
The archival footage of Al Leiter pitching on the television screen was from his 11 strikeout performance on April 14, 1988. A month after the film was released, Leiter was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays.
The two top-billed leads, Michael Keaton and Christopher Lloyd, share last names, which are the same as the surnames of two famous Hollywood silent movie comedians, they being Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, respectively.
Star Billing: Michael Keaton (first), Christopher Lloyd (second), Peter Boyle (third), Stephen Furst (fourth), and Lorraine Bracco (fifth).
According to film critic Leonard Maltin, the picture "seems inspired by "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)".
User reviews