Rating: 
Summary: A toast to Billy Ray!
Review: Simply put, this is one of the funniest movies ever made. True, the concept itself might not be the most original, but this crowd-pleasing John Landis comedy skewers American race and class tensions in a way that is refreshingly original. Set in the City of Brotherly Love, "Trading Places" is filled with stand-out performances and witty dialogue. Eddie Murphy gives the best performance of his film career as Billy Ray Valentine, the homeless man who becomes a Wall Street tycoon--courtesy of the evil, somewhat incestous Duke brothers, played with relish by Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy. Dan Aykroyd is adequate as Louis Winthop III, the callow stock broker whose life is ruined by the Dukes. As for Ms. Jamie Lee Curtis...well? If you don't think she pulls off one of the sexiest performances ever put on the screen, then it's your own fault. Also look for stellar cameos by Jim Belushi, Al Frankin, Tom Davis (obsure "SNL" alum), the evil principal from "The Breakfast Club", and rock legend Bo Diddley as a pawn shop proprietor ("In Philadelphia, it's worth FIFTY BUCKS.")
Rating:
Summary: Essential
Review: Trading Places is one of those classics that you can watch every other year or so. The story is by no means new (rich boy/poor boy situation-swop scenario) but it comes together very nicely in John Landis' film. It is pretty much the Eddie Murphy Show, and remains to this day the actor's best all-round performance. Trading Places is also one of John Landis' artistically more successful movies along with Blues Brothers (a film which was partially ruined by butcher-shop editing), and indeed the two are from the same period.
The film is beautifully paced, the casting superb, the camerawork has some very artistic touches. The acting performances? Dan Ackroyd as always turns in an adequate performance, Eddie Murphy shines in the roll as Billy Ray, as does Denholm Elliot as the stiff upper-lipped English butler (what else?). Jamie Lee Curtis adorns the screen with an abundance curves and a brave if not entirely convincing portrayal as the hooker with a heart of gold. But that's just nit-picking. This is a truly great movie for all the family, complete with morality messages galore and a happy ending. Timeless stuff. But you've probably already seen it, of course.
Rating:
Summary: A Funny Movie!
Review: Trading Places is a very funny movie, I first saw it in a movie theater in 1983 and I think Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy were very good and so were Jamie Lee Curtis and all of the other actors. I very highly recommend this movie which I plan on someday buying on DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: One of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd's Best
Review: Unfortunately we can't rate the movie and the DVD realization separately in the number of stars we give. So we have to do it in the rating. DVD realization: Too darn expensive for what you get compared to the VHS version. Wait until the price goes down, or buy the VHS version and wait for the DVD to come down in price. The price versus benefit of the DVD over the VHS gets -1 star...yes, negative stars. The Movie: All right, maybe not five stars, but as a comedy this movie is absolutely wonderful. I like comedies that make you think, and this one does. Filled with irony from the beginning to end, the humor substantially comes from irony. The movie makes fun of people in high places who, according to this movie, do not think like you and I and clearly have nothing better to do with their time than to manipulate people. The Story: Dan Aykroyd is an executive in a New York investment firm. Clearly intelligent and well-bred, he lives a life style that most of us don't even dream about. Butler, very expensive home and suits, this guy is living a very high life. Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche are two brothers who own the investment firm. One day they see Eddie Murphy in front of skyscraper that houses their offices. After discussing the opportunities that people get in life, Ralph Bellamy bets Don Ameche that given the right circumstances that Eddie Murphy could have been Dan Aykroyd. What follows actually makes you feel sympathetic for Dan Aykroyd, even though he is clearly a snob. Dan Aykroyd is set up and arrested, fired from his job, and kicked out of his house, He is completely cut off from the life he knows. Eddie Murphy is put into Dan Aykroyd's job and house. Poor Dan really hits a low until Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays a prostitute, takes pity on him and takes him in. Fortunately for Dan, Eddie Murphy overhears Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche discussing the bet they made in the executive potty, and also using words that are less than flattering. Eddie realizes that he and Dan have been set up, and goes seeking Dan since Eddie does not plan on being manipulated by these two. From this point on, the movie gets really good. Dan, Eddie, Jamie, and Denholm Elliott, Eddie's butler, decide to get revenge on Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche. Only minimal details from here on out in case you haven't seen the movie yet. The revenge plot is well set up and executed, all leading to a really uplifting scene in the commodities portion of the New York Stock Exchange. The movie is generally predictable, but it is the how of the predictability that I was unable to foresee. People who are in the commodities business will probably scoff at some of the details, but for those of us who are ignorant of commodities, that part is funny and upbeat. This early Eddie Murphy movie is well-done. Eddie generally stays away from the four-letter words he seems to use so much in some of his newer movies. Dan Aykroyd plays a character that at first you revile, and then want to like. I'll let you discover how Dan's character evolves. This movie has a fair amount of intelligent humor. It relies very little on slapstick. It is one of my favorite comedies that I never seem to get tired of watching.
Rating:
Summary: I CAN SEE!! I CAN SEE!! or TURN THOSE MACHINES BACK ON!!
Review: Trading Places. One of THE ALL TIME BEST films of the careers of Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy. Finally coming to DVD. I thought Paramount was gonna torture us and never release it. What should be some extras that Paramount should put in? Well, The scene where Mr. Beeks gets the crop report and poisons the guard should be included. Actually, The Internet Movie Database has a great listing of the left out and alternate scenes. Look for Trading Places and check out the Trivia and Alt. Versions sections. A fine cast backs up Dan and Eddie. Ralph Bellemy, Dan Ameche, Denholm Elliot (God Rest Their Souls), Jamie Lee Curtis (In her sexy Breakthrough Role), & Paul Gleason (His portrayal of Clarence Beeks could be how he got to be in The Breakfest Club). And great Cameos by Bo Diddley, Al Frankin & Tom Davis, and a rare small part by James Belushi (Possibly at Dan's Request). And who can forget the Landis trademarks like the still picture montages and of course "See You Next Wednesday". I just know once I pop the DVD in my player, I'll be screaming at the end with Don Ameche, "TURN THOSE MACHINES BACK ON!! TURN THOSE MACHINES BACK ON!!" Good Day Mr. Duke.
Rating:
Summary: Classic
Review: If you have not seen this movie buy it and watch it enuff said
Story 10 Acting 10 Direction 10 Action 10 Entertainment 10
Overall 50/50 so good even my college professor recommended it
Rating:
Summary: Great comedy, and a great revenge movie
Review:
Format: Color
Studio: Paramount Studio
Video Release Date: August 19, 2003
Cast: Dan Aykroyd ... Louis Winthorpe III
Eddie Murphy ... Billy Ray Valentine
Ralph Bellamy ... Randolph Duke
Don Ameche ... Mortimer Duke
Denholm Elliott ... Coleman
Jamie Lee Curtis ... Ophelia
Kristin Holby ... Penelope Witherspoon
Paul Gleason ... Clarence Beeks
Alfred Drake ... President of Exchange
Bo Diddley ... Pawnbroker
Frank Oz ... Corrupt cop
James Belushi ... Harvey
Al Franken ... Baggage handler #1
Tom Davis ... Baggage handler #2
Maurice Woods ... Duke & Duke employee
Richard D. Fisher Jr. ... Duke & Duke employee
Jim Gallagher ... Duke & Duke employee
Anthony DiSabatino ... Duke & Duke employee
Bonnie Behrend ... Duke & Duke employee
Sunnie Merrill ... Duke & Duke employee
James Newell ... Duke & Duke employee
Mary St. John ... Duke & Duke employee
Bonnie Tremena ... Duke & Duke employee David Schwartz ... Duke & Duke employee
Tom Degidon ... Duke domestic
William Magerman ... Duke domestic
Alan Dellay ... Duke domestic
Florence Anglin ... Duke domestic
Ray D'Amore ... Duke domestic
Bobra Suiter ... Duke domestic
Herb Peterson ... Duke domestic
Sue Dugan ... Duke domestic
Walt Gorney ... Duke domestic
B. Constance Barry ... Duke domestic
P. Jay Sidney ... Heritage Club doorman
Avon Long ... Ezra
Tom Mardirosian ... Officer Pancuzzi
Charles Brown ... Officer Reynolds
Robert Curtis-Brown ... Todd
Nicholas Guest ... Harry
John Bedford Lloyd ... Andrew
Tony Sherer ... Philip
Robert Earl Jones ... Attendant
Robert E. Lee ... Cop #1
Peter Hock ... Cop #2
Clint Smith ... Doo Rag Lenny
Ron Taylor ... Big black guy
James D. Turner ... Even bigger black guy
Giancarlo Esposito ... Cellmate #2
Steve Hofvendahl ... Cellmate #3
Gwyllum Evans ... President of Heritage Club
Eddie Jones ... Cop #3
John McCurry ... Cop #4 Michelle Mais ... Hooker #1
Barra Kahn ... Hooker #2
Bill Cobbs ... Bartender
Joshua Daniel ... Partygoer
Jacques Sandulescu ... Creepy man
W.B. Brydon ... Bank Manager
Margaret H. Flynn ... Duke & Duke receptionist
Kelly Curtis ... Muffy
Tracy K. Shaffer ... Constance
Susan Fallender ... Bunny
Lucianne Buchanan ... President's mistress
Paul Garcia ... Junior executive #1
Jed Gillin ... Junior executive #2
Jimmy Raitt ... Ophelia's client
Kate Taylor ... Dukes' Secretary
Philip Bosco ... Doctor
Bill Boggs ... Newscaster
Deborah Reagan ... Harvey's girlfriend
Don McLeod ... Gorilla
Stephen Stucker ... Stationmaster
Richard Hunt ... Wilson
Paul Austin ... Trader #1
John Randolph Jones ... Trader #2
Jack Davidson ... Trader #3
Bernie McInerney ... Trader #4
Maurice Copeland ... Secretary of Agriculture
Ralph Clanton ... Official #1
Bryan Clark ... Official #2
Gary Howard Klar ... Longshoreman
Afemo Omilami ... Longshoreman Shelly Chee Chee Hall ... Monica
Donna Palmer ... Gladys
Barry Dennen ... Demitri
James Eckhouse ... Jail guard
Arleen Sorkin ... Woman at party Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) and Louis Winthorpe, the Third (Dan Ackroyd) are forced to see how the "other half" lives, when the wealthy Duke brothers (Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche - Winthorpe's employers, make a one dollar bet that they can take anybody off the street and make them a commodities broker. They do so, ruining Winthorpe in the process, and replacing him with Valentine. Can it work? And if it does, can Winthorpe get his revenge? This is good comedy. Ackroyd and Murphy work well together, and make a great comedy team. Joseph (Joe) Pierre
author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books
Rating:
Summary: Unbeatable
Review: This could quite possibly be the best movie i have ever seen. i absolutly love it. A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rating:
Summary: Eddie Murphy in his Prime
Review: I love love love this movie it is the best movie of all time with to of the funniest people in the world starring. It is one of the best Eddie Murphy movies to date (with the exception of Beverly Hills Cop) and really shows how talented he is. The story is that to incredibly rich stock market people switch a rich mans life with a poor mans life for sport. It is a bet and they ruin the rich mans life and the prize one dollar. Now they want to get even all they need is to make a plan with the help of their butler and the rich man's girlfriend (Jaime Lee Curtis) they might be able to formulate one. I would recommend this to anyone who loves to laugh and who is over the age of 14 because unless it is edited it does have some nudity and so viewer descretion is advised. I hope that this review has helped you.
Rating: 
Summary: Eddie Murphy at his best
Review: Eddie Murphy's comic genius has somewhat waned over later years. He's become too much of a parody of himself, and all the jokes just aren't funny anymore. Which is why it was quite good to see one of his earlier films, paired up with Dan Aykroyd, the king of being awkward.
It was really weird to see Jamie Lee Curtis in this. I noticed her name during the start credits, but when she first came onto the screen, I didn't give her a second glance! All that hair really makes her look different. It was good to see she was wearing a wig, and her natural hair was underneath. It was a brave role for her, but she was still quite young when this was made. I couldn't believe it when I saw her wearing a belt instead of a skirt. Her legs just seemed to go on forever! I can't really say I enjoyed this film. It was good to watch, but it was a very predictable storyline. I seem to be watching a lot of predictable films at the moment.
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