FBMR - Trading Places

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen this movie. I’ve seen it on video, and I’ve seen it one TV. Whenever it’s on, I just have to watch it. Of course, on TV, with all the swearing dubbed over, it’s not quite the same, but it’s still enjoyable. This movie, uncut, is really, really funny. It is one of both Dan Aykroyd’s and Eddie Murphy’s best movies. They don’t have too many scenes together, but the ones they do are very good. And their scenes with the other characters are very funny as well. It’s great!

Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) is a big-shot executive at a huge brokerage firm. Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) is a third-rate wannabe con-man, who’s never been given a break. The Dukes, played impeccably by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche, decide do a little experiment. They bail Billy Ray out of prison and give him Louis’ house, butler, and job (which they all own anyhow), while at the same time frame Louis for theft and drug dealing, leaving him homeless, friendless, and fundless. The Dukes then bet on whether genetics will win over environment. Seeing Billy Ray and Louis in each other’s “worlds” is quite funny. Louis is the perfect snooty snob, and Billy Ray is a down-to-earth, albeit wise-cracking guy who sees what it’s like to have more money than he knows what to do with.

The movie is a bit dated, but that’s part of its charm. There are some great little moments in this movie. It’s one of those movies that get better the more you see it. So, see it of you’ve never seen it before, and watch it again, if you have.


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TRADING PLACES (1983) ***1/2 I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve seen this movie. I’ve seen it on video, and I’ve seen it one TV. Whenever it’s on, I just have to watch it. Of course, on TV, with all the swearing dubbed over, it’s not quite the same, but it’s still enjoyable. This movie, uncut, is really, really funny. It is one of both Dan Aykroyd’s and Eddie Murphy’s best movies. They don’t have too many scenes together, but the ones they do are very good. And their scenes with the other characters are very funny as well. It’s great! Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) is a big-shot executive at a huge brokerage firm. Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) is a third-rate wannabe con-man, who’s never been given a break. The Dukes, played impeccably by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche, decide do a little experiment. They bail Billy Ray out of prison and give him Louis’ house, butler, and job (which they all own anyhow), while at the same time frame Louis for theft and drug dealing, leaving him homeless, friendless, and fundless. The Dukes then bet on whether genetics will win over environment. Seeing Billy Ray and Louis in each other’s “worlds” is quite funny. Louis is the perfect snooty snob, and Billy Ray is a down-to-earth, albeit wise-cracking guy who sees what it’s like to have more money than he knows what to do with. The movie is a bit dated, but that’s part of its charm. There are some great little moments in this movie. It’s one of those movies that get better the more you see it. So, see it of you’ve never seen it before, and watch it again, if you have.