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.
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.
The film was only mildly successful on it's theatrical release but became a significant hit when released on video rental and pay per view TV a few months later.
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."