Warning: include(): http:// wrapper is disabled in the server configuration by allow_url_fopen=0 in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 58

Warning: include(http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/ads.php): failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 58

Warning: include(): Failed opening 'http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/ads.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php54/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 58

Warning: include(): http:// wrapper is disabled in the server configuration by allow_url_fopen=0 in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 125

Warning: include(http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/leftnav.php): failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 125

Warning: include(): Failed opening 'http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/leftnav.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php54/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 125

 

Trading Places (DVD Review)
(
B+ -- "An amusing ride")
by Lee Tistaert

What do you get when you team Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy with one of the legendary filmmakers (John Landis) from its time? Trading Places delivers hilarity into the bunch, but can also make the viewer think about the other end to an argument.

The comedy involves a rich businessman, Louis Winthorpe (Dan Aykroyd), who one day collides into Billy Ray Valentine, a homeless man. Because Valentine is black, Winthorpe is convinced that Billy Ray was attempting to steal his bag when they ran into each other, which places Valentine behind bars. At that confrontation, Louis' boss's (Randolph and Mortimer Duke) begin to ponder whether Valentine would make for a good replacement for Winthorpe, so they pull a nasty trick for the hell of it and bet one dollar that they can successfully turn the homeless guy around to run the company.

In how to con Louis out of office (who is a hard working man), they plant drugs in his jacket which places the character in jail as well. Bailing Valentine from prison, Randolph and Mortimer let him into their mansion to run the show while Winthorpe must confront the ruthless streets for survival, as his old fellow butler claims to not even know him anymore and refuses to let him inside the house. Once released from prison, Louis is met by Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis), who takes him in as he has no place else to stay. The rest of the story has Winthorpe fighting to get his position back and Valentine attempting to figure why exactly he is where he is.

Trading Places is a classic comedy that while is not one of the best films ever made or outstanding for that matter, it's one of those very good flicks that will always be remembered as the years go on. It lacks qualities to drive it to the top of the chart, but really, the point of the ride is to be entertained and Trading Places succeeds in that very well. Being R-rated, we are allowed to watch Eddie Murphy in a role that permits him to use foul language like most fans would expect, as the comedian is known to be funny when you let his mouth run without the restrictions of the MPAA (there have been exceptions). Murphy carries a few scenes that I will always remember due to his facial expressions along with his physical humor of the moments, or even just his very heavy enthusiasm that makes the scene so enjoyable. The comedian has the rare ability to make you laugh or simply smile with his bright grin even if the on-screen presence is all that does it. And in Trading Places, the actor's talent is inserted to lively status.

Dan Aykroyd, while good, doesn't match up the charisma of Eddie Murphy in the film, but still manages some humorous spots here and there. The script doesn't hand over much meat to digest on his part, but as the story progresses Aykroyd is able to have more fun with the words or even simply from the noises coming out of him.

One of Trading Places' many goals is to give the audience a view of the opposite life of a character. Meaning, turn a millionaire into a homeless person and vise versa and compare the lifestyles that unfold. In doing so, we can get an experience of what it is like for someone not as lucky as another person or a life that just couldn't be reached for someone without assistance or a gateway.

The performances throughout the great cast are all very good, with Denholm Elliot (the butler) very genuine and believable in his role, along with Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche (Duke's) supplying witty fun in their deliveries.

Trading Places can be a blast to watch and has some very memorable lines in store, but it doesn't rise up to be any more more than a really fun adventure. The cast does a very fine job of performing their parts to fun but even to a compelling level, but the story itself does not hold gems within itself that would classify the film as anywhere near a masterpiece nor one of the best films ever made. It's simply one of the more enjoyable comedies produced and one that fans of John Landis, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy will never forget.

Movie Grade: B+
DVD Grade: D-
DVD contains no special features.


Warning: include(): http:// wrapper is disabled in the server configuration by allow_url_fopen=0 in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 283

Warning: include(http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/rightcol.php): failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 283

Warning: include(): Failed opening 'http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/rightcol.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php54/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 283


Warning: include(): http:// wrapper is disabled in the server configuration by allow_url_fopen=0 in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 309

Warning: include(http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/bottomads.php): failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 309

Warning: include(): Failed opening 'http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/bottomads.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php54/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 309

Warning: include(): http:// wrapper is disabled in the server configuration by allow_url_fopen=0 in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 322

Warning: include(http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/footer.php): failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 322

Warning: include(): Failed opening 'http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/footer.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php54/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 322

 


Warning: include(): http:// wrapper is disabled in the server configuration by allow_url_fopen=0 in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 337

Warning: include(http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/counter.php): failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 337

Warning: include(): Failed opening 'http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/counter.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/opt/cpanel/ea-php54/root/usr/share/pear') in /home/leesmovi/public_html/DVD/TradingPlDVDLee.php on line 337