The Dream Team (1989)

54% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(7,846 ratings)

The eponymous team consists of four residents of a New Jersey psychiatric hospital: ex-postal worker Henry Sikorsky (Christopher Lloyd), who fancies himself a doctor; one-time ad agency exec Jack McDermott (Peter Boyle), suffering from a Messiah/martyr complex; writer Billy Caulfield (Michael… More The eponymous team consists of four residents of a New Jersey psychiatric hospital: ex-postal worker Henry Sikorsky (Christopher Lloyd), who fancies himself a doctor; one-time ad agency exec Jack McDermott (Peter Boyle), suffering from a Messiah/martyr complex; writer Billy Caulfield (Michael Keaton), who cannot abide the "idiots" in the world (namely, everyone but himself); and TV-obsessed Albert Ianuzzi (Stephen Furst). Permitted a field trip to a baseball game, the four unfortunates wander off when psychiatrist Dr. Weitzman (Dennis Boutsikaris) is waylaid by two corrupt police officers after he witnesses them killing a third cop. The innocent inmates are accused of attacking Dr. Weitzman, but it is they who team up to bring the actual culprits to justice. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr.
Directed By: Howard Zieff
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 7, 1989 Wide
On DVD: Jul 1, 2003
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Hilarious and unexpectedly touching. A great vehicle for Keaton.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Romanticizing mental illness at its worst.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Yet another Keaton-related disaster. Get this guy a new agent!
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Mental illness is no laughing matter, and neither is this film.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Strap youself in for a chunk of great laughs
John Urbancich, Sun Newspapers of Cleveland
A very underrated film, with Peter Boyle stealing the show.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
even Keaton can't make this clunker click
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
A solid cast helps mold the material into something sweet.

Read all 8 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Lucas M

Entertaining and interesting, the thing is that, The Dream Team, show some cliches and a wear script, just like Zieff's direction.
Anthony L

A great little silly 80's comedy
danny d

this is a hilarious movie. peter boyle was the pay off and the premise was smart. dated but was so good in its time that i still love it.
Lafe F

A funny comedy with four mental patients wandering the streets of New York City, meeting even crazier people. It's light and doesn't get too crazy.
xGary X

Low concept "star" vehicle for Michael Keaton that's nothing more than a low brow knock off of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, even to the point of casting Christopher Lloyd. But of course they had to throw in a nonsensical sub plot about the patients witnessing a… More
Low concept "star" vehicle for Michael Keaton that's nothing more than a low brow knock off of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, even to the point of casting Christopher Lloyd. But of course they had to throw in a nonsensical sub plot about the patients witnessing a murder to give the lowest common denominator some chases to vegetate at.
Dean M

Dull comedy with four mental patients fend themselves in the middle of Manhattan.
Andrew P

Its just one of those late 80's movies which are long lost and forgotten but a hell of a load of fun! I had never heard about this until my friend showed it to me recentally and I gave it a go just one evening, I enjoyed it a lot. Lloyd and Keaton play perfectly off each other… More
Its just one of those late 80's movies which are long lost and forgotten but a hell of a load of fun! I had never heard about this until my friend showed it to me recentally and I gave it a go just one evening, I enjoyed it a lot. Lloyd and Keaton play perfectly off each other and while neither reached a comic state much like Sandler or Steve Martin, they do deserve it! Its a funny movie which can just be enjoyed, give it a watch!
Jason R

Keaton is best known as Batman, but he is a very good comedic actor as is apparent in The Dream Team which just that with the four main actors who are great talents Stephen Furst (Animal House), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, the late Peter Boyle (Young Frankenstein), and… More
Keaton is best known as Batman, but he is a very good comedic actor as is apparent in The Dream Team which just that with the four main actors who are great talents Stephen Furst (Animal House), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, the late Peter Boyle (Young Frankenstein), and Michael Keaton rounds out this great cast for a classic comedy that shouldn't be missed.

Read all 8 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Michael Keaton as Billy Caulfield

            Christopher Lloyd as Henry Sikorsky

            Peter Boyle as Jack McDermott

            Stephen Furst as Albert Ianuzzi

            Dennis Boutsikaris as Dr. Weitzman

            Lorraine Bracco as Riley

            Milo O'Shea as Dr. Newald

            Philip Bosco as O'Malley

            James Remar as Gianelli

            Macintyre Dixon as Dr. Verboven

            Michael Lembeck as Ed

            Cynthia Belliveau as Nurse

            Michelyn Emelle as Duty Nurse Harriet

            Barry Flatman as Arrogant Yuppie

            Myra Fried as Floor Nurse

            Jack Gilpin as Dr. Talmer

            Donna Hanover as Field Reporter

            Kay Hawtry as Nurse

            Bruce Hunter as Yuppie

            Jihmi Kennedy as Tow Man

            Maxine Miller as Newald's Secretary

            Dennis Parlato as TV Newscaster

            Nicholas Pasco as Man Out Window

            Marilyn Peppiatt as Floor Nurse

            Larry Pine as Canning

            Ted Simonett as Yuppie

            Brad Sullivan as Sgt. Vincente

            Wayne Tippit as Capt. Lewitt

            Robert Weil as Caesar

            Tico Wells as Station Attendant

            J.R. Zimmerman as Hospital Guard

            Ron James as Dwight

            Dwayne McLean as Old Gent

            Don Saunders as Security Guard

            Patricia Idlette as Woman at Police Station

            Richard Fitzpatrick as Dr. Bauer

            Victor Ertmanis as Man in Mets Jersey

            Michael Beatty as Intern

            Greg Beresford as Field Reporter

            Stewart Bick as Paramedic

            Patricia Carroll Brown as Nurse

            Dick Callahan as Bartender

            Janet Feindel as Senior Nurse

            Eric Fink as Priest

            Frierson Family Singers as Gospel Group

            Shelley Goldstein as Waitress

            Henry Gomez as Guard

            Max Haines as Guard

            Olivia Horton as Henry's Daughter

            Jack Jessop as Dr. Meekum

            John Liddle as Cop

            Jane Luk as Admissions Nurse

            Lizbeth MacKay as Henry's Wife

            Ellen Maguire as Canning's Secretary

            James O'Regan as Litterbug

            Alphonsus E. Platt as Gospel Musician

            Kenneth Raybourne as Gospel Musician

            Chick Roberts as Old Guard

            A. Frank Ruffo as Relative

            John Stocker as Murray

            Harold Surratt as Pastor Lester

            Al Therrien as Security Guard

            Marty Waldman as Salesman

            Freda Foh Shen as TV Newscaster

            Jack Duffy as Bernie
See full cast

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