Customer Reviews

Trading Places [DVD] [1983]

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Right from the opening credits, this film shows quality. It stands above other comedies due to the lack of filler material - every line is memorable. The cast is great; the two leads make the most of their characters (both as brokers and bums) but never overstep the mark, thanks partly to the tight editing. The plot becomes a little bizarre, but by that time you're already hooked, and the ending of the film is pure joy. To my mind, no recent comedy has been this good; it mixes high and low brow jokes without resorting to toilet humour, it doesn't pull any punches (spot the social commentary), the performances are masterful and the script achieves depth without sacrificing the one-liners or slowing the pace.

One of the greatest comedies from the 1980's. Aykroyd plays the role of the elitist snob with perfection, and Murphy's urban mannerisms are dead on. This edition does not contain any juicy extras, but the sharp digital picture makes the movie more enjoyable.

The film revolves around Randolph and Mortimer Duke, two incredibly rich speculators who operate on the derivatives market (when this film was made (1983) the futures market was still in its infancy, and you can learn a lot about the business from the film!)

They have a debate - not a new debate, but a thorny one nonetheless : is ability inherent in the way you are brought up (i.e. nuture), or is it inherent in your breeding (i.e. nature). They decide on a little experiment.... enter our two heroes.

Eddie Murphy plays a down and out, living on the streets, doing what he can to survive. Dan Ackroyd plays a futures broker, rich, successful, a huge house and butler, and a beautiful wife. Randolph and Mortimer decide to swap them (with the help of a unsavoury private eye named Clarence Beaks played superbly by Paul Gleason). Eddie becomes the high flying futures broker, and Dan becomes the down and out. As you can imagine, hilarity ensues!

There are many other reasons to watch this film, including superb performances from the likes of Don Ameche and the sadly departed Denholm Elliot, and of course the gorgeous Jamie Lee Curtis ensuring interest rises by revealing her assets (sorry - couldn't resist the banking pun).

PS : For those wonder how the Dukes turn out after the film, don't worry too much; watch Coming To America to see an inspired cameo!

Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper has seen many incarnations from Disney to The Simpsons. But none have been as cruel (and funny) and John Landis' Trading Places, which proves just how funny Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy used to be.

Louise Winthorpe III is a spoiled, snobby managing director at the Duke & Duke commodities brokerage. Billy Ray Valentine is a poverty-stricken street hustler. Randolph Duke makes a wager with his brother Mortimer that the men can be successfully swapped . The con is on as Valentine is plucked from the streets and Winthorpe is ungraciously dumped on them. There's loads of fun watching him hit absolute rock bottom while Valentine quickly becomes spoiled and snobby himself.

Jamie Lee Curtis is the hugely-boobed hooker with a heart of gold who takes Winthorpe in while the always brilliant Denholm Elliott is Coleman, the unwilling butler caught up in the Dukes' evil plan. Once all four unravel the scam they team-up to destroy the Dukes.

Trading Places is crammed full of hilarious scenes, great dialogue, and funny cameos. Who cannot resist Eddie Murphy's foreign exchange student disguise or Ackroyd's Lionel Josef. Even the gorilla in the train is a brilliant character.

For those of you who love dark, cruel comedies Trading Places is utterly essential. It may be very 80s, but it never gets old. It's a must see and must have.

The Blu Ray looks great in 1.78:1 1080p with Dolby 5.1 sound. There are precious little interesting extras.

This superb comedy from John Landis-(An American WereWolf in London, Blues Brothers, Into the Night), Starring Dan Ackroyd and then about to become a World Event-Eddie Murphy...
The story is quite simple, a wealthy white man is put into the position of poverty and crime and his coloured contemporay is placed into his rich/white social position...
These two are guinea pigs for a bet taken out by the Duke brothers...
The movie marked a high mark for all involved, a breakthrough for Jamie Lee Curtis(Orphelia)-finally getting away from the horror movie roles, Dan Ackroyd is the nominal lead-his Winthorpe character is the central drive of the movie, and his relationship with Billy Ray Valentine-Eddie murphy(even when not in same scene).
Murphy's star at the time was in ascendant, and for his 1st major roles(48Hrs, Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop), he is Brilliant, fast, funny, and a true movie star/comedy actor.

Worth seeking out for a look at murphy/ackroyd team-up, made like a 1930s screwball(with an adult language allowance...), Landis directs a true comedy classic...

I watched this for the first time in many years the other night and was bowled over. Excluding Laurel & Hardy, the only other film comedies I can think of that match Trading Places are Some Like It Hot, Annie Hall and Airplane!. And as far as Christmas movies go I'd sooner watch this than It's a Wonderful Life anyday. The script is intelligent and packed with laughs, the cast is perfect, and the film caught the mood of the 80s (and beyond) when the age of big swinging dicks had barely got going. Those three films I listed all preceded Trading Places, which says something about the quality of comedies in the last 30 years.

Its definately the cast that makes this movie a classic. Quality performances from everyone and one of my favourite Denholm Elliot movies up there with the Indiana Jones appearances. Definately one that everyone should have in their collection.

I always loved this film, and watch the VHS version a lot until we finally got rid of our player. I never got around the the DVD and so jumped straight to the Bluray.

The colours are bright and the picture is really crsip - it's a great remastering. The audio is crystal clear as well. A great buy.

I'm not going to review the film, no need to.

The region free transfer breaths new life into this 25 year old movie, it's sharp (but not too sharp!).

An immaculate transfer!

I have seen this film many many times and it never fails to make me laugh.

One of the very few Eddie Murphy films I actually like!

Extremely funny and not to be missed!