The troubled 1982 comedy that launched a Hollywood legend's career in secret
In short: Before she became an icon, a seven-year-old Angelina Jolie made her screen debut in a chaotic production plagued by strikes, studio interference, and massive financial losses. Lookin' to Get Out remains a curious relic of 1980s cinema, defined as much by its behind-the-scenes drama as its onscreen narrative.
Released in 1982, Lookin' to Get Out was directed by Hal Ashby and marked the screenwriting debut of star Jon Voight. The plot follows Alex Kovac and Jerry Feldman, two friends who flee New York City for Las Vegas after racking up a $10,000 gambling debt. Upon arrival, a case of mistaken identity leads a local casino to comp them $10,000, setting the stage for a high-stakes blackjack run and a $500,000 windfall that draws the ire of both the casino boss and the original debt collectors.
The production was notoriously difficult. Principal photography began in May 1980 but was halted for five months due to an actors' strike. Tensions escalated further during post-production, as Ashby clashed with the studio over the final cut. Ashby eventually produced his own version of the film, which he donated to UCLA before his death in 1988. This director's cut remained hidden until Warner Home Video finally released it on DVD in 2009. The version originally released to theaters in October 1982 was heavily edited by the studio, a process that even Voight reportedly disliked.
Critical reception was largely negative, with Variety describing the film as an ill-conceived vehicle that failed to capitalize on the chemistry between Voight and co-star Burt Young. The film's commercial failure was significant, resulting in a $6.2 million write-off for Lorimar. Despite these struggles, the movie holds a unique place in history for featuring the debut of Angelina Jolie, then credited as Angelina Jolie Voight, who appeared as the daughter of the main characters. The film also serves as a time capsule for the era, featuring prominent appearances by Siegfried & Roy at the MGM Grand, which critics at the time noted felt like shameless product placement for the casino.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Lookin' to Get Out
- Also: Wikidata — Lookin' to Get Out · CC0
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