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After his smashing film debut in 48 HRS, Eddie Murphy proved he was no flash in the pan with Trading Places, a laugh-out loud comedy that takes a well-worn cinematic premise and gives it a fresh coat of hysterically funny paint.
This is the story of a pair of wealthy industrialist brothers named Randolph and Mortimer Duke, who on the premise of a $1.00 bet, alter the lives of their spoiled rich nephew (Dan Aykroyd) and a streetwise con-man (Murphy) by arranging for Aykroyd's life and reputation to be destroyed and have it all thrust upon Murphy, giving him Aykroyd's old life.
In terms of originality, the film doesn't score a lot of points there, but where it does score is with the rock solid performances of Aykroyd and especially Murphy. It is funny watching Murphy's Billy Ray Valentine adjust to life as a millionaire, but for me, it was much funnier watching the spoiled Aykroyd, deal with life as a penniless suspected drug dealer. The scenes of Aykroyd's Louis being framed as a drug dealer and losing his fiancee walk a fine line between funny and heartbreaking.
Aykroyd and Murphy are backed by a wonderful supporting cast including Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche as the evil Duke brothers, Jamie Lee Curtis as Ophelia, a hooker who takes sympathy on Louis, and especially Denholm Elliott as Coleman, Aykroyd's butler who is actually employed by the Dukes, trapping him in the middle of this nasty charade and having mixed feelings about it. Watch Elliott in the scene where Aykroyd comes home to find the locks changed on his door and Elliott has to pretend that he doesn't know who he is...quietly brilliant acting by Elliott which has very little to do with actual dialogue.
The screenplay by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingroid is surprisingly clever and John Landis' directorial hand is solid and focused, bringing us a richly entertaining comedy that became an instant classic upon release and confirmed Eddie Murphy as a comic powerhouse to be reckoned with. 8/10
After his smashing film debut in 48 HRS, Eddie Murphy proved he was no flash in the pan with Trading Places, a laugh-out loud comedy that takes a well-worn cinematic premise and gives it a fresh coat of hysterically funny paint.
This is the story of a pair of wealthy industrialist brothers named Randolph and Mortimer Duke, who on the premise of a $1.00 bet, alter the lives of their spoiled rich nephew (Dan Aykroyd) and a streetwise con-man (Murphy) by arranging for Aykroyd's life and reputation to be destroyed and have it all thrust upon Murphy, giving him Aykroyd's old life.
In terms of originality, the film doesn't score a lot of points there, but where it does score is with the rock solid performances of Aykroyd and especially Murphy. It is funny watching Murphy's Billy Ray Valentine adjust to life as a millionaire, but for me, it was much funnier watching the spoiled Aykroyd, deal with life as a penniless suspected drug dealer. The scenes of Aykroyd's Louis being framed as a drug dealer and losing his fiancee walk a fine line between funny and heartbreaking.
Aykroyd and Murphy are backed by a wonderful supporting cast including Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche as the evil Duke brothers, Jamie Lee Curtis as Ophelia, a hooker who takes sympathy on Louis, and especially Denholm Elliott as Coleman, Aykroyd's butler who is actually employed by the Dukes, trapping him in the middle of this nasty charade and having mixed feelings about it. Watch Elliott in the scene where Aykroyd comes home to find the locks changed on his door and Elliott has to pretend that he doesn't know who he is...quietly brilliant acting by Elliott which has very little to do with actual dialogue.
The screenplay by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingroid is surprisingly clever and John Landis' directorial hand is solid and focused, bringing us a richly entertaining comedy that became an instant classic upon release and confirmed Eddie Murphy as a comic powerhouse to be reckoned with. 8/10