Clean and Sober (1988)

Dang! This movie would have been perfect for my “addiction” theme last year.

Synopsis: Disreputable dopehead Daryl does detox.

Blurb From the VHS Jacket: “No doubt about it, Michael Keaton is a funny guy. His starring roles in Night Shift, Mr. Mom and Beetlejuice prove it. So what happens when Keaton tackles his first dramatic role? No doubt about it, he turns in his best performance yet.”

What Did I Learn?: Asking fellow addicts if they will agree to be your Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor is a great way to pick up chicks.

You Might Like This Movie If: You know that cokeheads are nothing but trouble.

Really?: So wait...dude is trying to evade both his boss (from whom he embezzled $52K) and the cops, so he goes into a rehab program even though he loves his coke habit? Couldn’t he simply get into his car and drive to Vegas, or something?

Rating: Clean and Sober isn’t a fun movie by any stretch of the imagination, but it boasts some excellent performances (especially from Keaton himself...you’ll never forget the scene when he phones his parents and asks them to place a second mortgage on the family home) and it provides a valuable look at cocaine addiction and rehab. Good movie, but Act III is a bit weak, as Daryl (Keaton) more-or-less gets a grip on his problems and spends the rest of his time trying to rescue a fellow addict. 7.5/10 stars.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094884/