Lost in America
David and Linda Howard are successful yuppies from LA. When he gets a job disappointment, David convinces Linda that they should quit their jobs, liquidate their assets, and emulate the movie Easy Rider, spending the rest of their lives travelling around America...in a Winnebago! (This is a kind of large, luxurious mobile home which suits a 1980's yuppie more than the counterculture dropout approach of Easy Rider.) His idealized, unrealistic plans soon begin to go spectacularly wrong.
Despite its tight budget of $4.0M, Lost in America became a commercial success, earning $10.2M worldwide—a 154% return.
1 win & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Lost in America (1985) exhibits meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Albert Brooks's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes David Howard in his Los Angeles home, practicing his speech expecting a VP promotion, surrounded by the trappings of yuppie success - the embodiment of 1980s materialistic ambition.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when David learns he didn't get the VP position - instead he's being transferred to New York to handle the Ford account, not the promotion he expected. His carefully planned life derails.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to David and Linda drive out of Los Angeles in their Winnebago, officially leaving their old life behind. They make the active choice to drop out and "touch Indians" across America., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 47% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat David wakes to discover Linda has gambled away their entire nest egg at roulette overnight. False victory becomes crushing defeat - their freedom was built on financial security, now gone., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, David's humiliating breakdown at his crossing guard job - screaming at children, having a full meltdown. The death of his ego and his fantasy of enlightened freedom. He's not a pioneer, he's just unemployed and broke., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. David calls his old boss from a payphone, swallowing his pride. The realization: he can't escape himself. The fantasy is over. He accepts reality and asks for his job back., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Lost in America's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Lost in America against these established plot points, we can identify how Albert Brooks utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Lost in America within the comedy genre.
Albert Brooks's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Albert Brooks films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Lost in America takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Albert Brooks filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Albert Brooks analyses, see Defending Your Life.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
David Howard in his Los Angeles home, practicing his speech expecting a VP promotion, surrounded by the trappings of yuppie success - the embodiment of 1980s materialistic ambition.
Theme
David's boss casually mentions "playing it safe" versus taking risks. The theme: security versus freedom, the American Dream of dropping out versus buying in.
Worldbuilding
Establishing David and Linda's upper-middle-class life: the house they're selling, David's advertising career, their materialism, the new Mercedes, their planned move to New York for his promotion.
Disruption
David learns he didn't get the VP position - instead he's being transferred to New York to handle the Ford account, not the promotion he expected. His carefully planned life derails.
Resistance
David rages against corporate life, debates with Linda, quits his job impulsively, and convinces her to quit hers. He pitches his "Easy Rider" fantasy: selling everything, buying a Winnebago, and crossing America "like pioneers."
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
David and Linda drive out of Los Angeles in their Winnebago, officially leaving their old life behind. They make the active choice to drop out and "touch Indians" across America.
Mirror World
The open road and their marriage becomes the thematic relationship. Linda represents going with the flow; David represents control and planning. Their dynamic will test whether freedom requires letting go of control.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - David and Linda living the dropout fantasy: they renew their vows in a Vegas chapel, enjoy their freedom, celebrate their nest egg of $145,000, and revel in having "escaped" conventional life.
Midpoint
David wakes to discover Linda has gambled away their entire nest egg at roulette overnight. False victory becomes crushing defeat - their freedom was built on financial security, now gone.
Opposition
Desperation escalates: David's pathetic attempt to get the casino manager to give the money back, their fights intensify, they're forced to take menial jobs (David crossing guard, Linda server), their RV lifestyle becomes a prison of poverty and resentment.
Collapse
David's humiliating breakdown at his crossing guard job - screaming at children, having a full meltdown. The death of his ego and his fantasy of enlightened freedom. He's not a pioneer, he's just unemployed and broke.
Crisis
David and Linda in the darkness of their failure, facing the reality that their dropout fantasy was just another form of his need for control and status. They must decide who they really are.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
David calls his old boss from a payphone, swallowing his pride. The realization: he can't escape himself. The fantasy is over. He accepts reality and asks for his job back.
Synthesis
David gets his job back (the New York Ford position he rejected). They drive the Winnebago back to New York, trapped in traffic, bickering. The "finale" is returning to the system, but with clearer eyes.
Transformation
David and Linda stuck in Manhattan traffic in their absurd Winnebago, arguing about parking. Mirror image of opening: still materialistic, still anxious, but now without illusions. The transformation is acceptance of who they are - the anti-transformation comedy ending.