THE Christmas classic in Italy. Can't miss it on Christmas' eve

Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy embark on a buddy film that's not really a buddy film, crossing paths only fleetingly before swapping lifestyles and trying the theory of nature vs. nurture amidst the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. Like the Richard Pryor comedy The Toy, there's a puzzling vein of not-so-subtle racism running through the core of this seemingly straight family comedy, particularly when Aykroyd dons black face in the third act, and it’s only partially settled at the conclusion. Maybe that's a product of the era in which it was made, though, and it seems somewhat validated, if not approved, by Murphy's close presence in every remotely thorny scene.

Otherwise, this is a lightly funny, straight-ahead retread with a few good laughs but no rapid-fire side splitters. Murphy and Aykroyd are both solid as obnoxious stereotypes of the worst their culture has to offer, while Jamie Lee Curtis's turn as the hooker with a head for business challenges convention in different ways.

Great supporting cast. An Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd classic.

Love this movie, and the way Aykroyd pronounces Gstaad is forever emblazoned in my mind.

Trading Places is like the stock market: you never know what's going to happen next, but you can always count on Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy to make you laugh harder than your portfolio's returns.

_Trading Places_ is an absolute gem of an 80's comedy that still holds up today. The dynamic between Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd has great comedic timing, and the clever social commentary on class and wealth adds an extra layer of depth to the film. What's really impressive, though, is how unapologetically politically incorrect the movie is. It's refreshing to watch a comedy that doesn't hold back. In fact, it's hard to imagine this movie being made today with today's woke standards, which only makes it even more enjoyable.

Just finished watching. Classic comedy :rofl:

I am still upset since Abed, Danny Pudi in Community, disguised himself as Jamie Lee Curtis, but I still find her attractive...

Festively hilarious, Trading Places is a fun, classic ‘80s comedy. The story follows a bet made between two partners of a brokerage firm to see if they can turn a petty criminal into a savvy commodities trader and also get one of their own to resort to a life of crime. Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy lead the cast and deliver excellent performances. And, the writing’s well-done and is perfectly suited for Aykroyd and Murphy, who are able to carry both the dramatic and comedic tones of the film. But in typical ‘80s fashion, there’s some unnecessary gratuity to this hard R comedy that really serves no purpose. Featuring two of the greatest Saturday Night Live alums, Trading Places is comedic gold (despite some blemishes).

A premise that fits well with its comic touch, has pleased me much more than expected, although it shows the passing of the years.

One of the funniest films ever made. A treat to watch Eddie Murphy in his prime.

A great cast all round - and a brilliant final twist. (spoiler) Having worked in that area, I cannot tell you how many times I've been asked to describe how they made all that money shorting the commodities!! (spoiler)

This is Murphy's finest performance in my opinion. His character work in Coming To America is fabulous but his Billy Ray Valentine here - especially the scenes in jail and then when they first show him his new home. Absolutely brilliant!

Merry New Year! What a classic.

Still a hilarious social satire. It's totally hokey, but it doesn't matter because it's soo much fun. Might not sit well with modern audiences though...

It's hard to talk about those films that became part of popular culture by being broadcasted every Christmas. "Trading Places" might work as a background to your family dinner, but honestly, it's just a poorly written and mediocre film, even for the '80s standards. This kind of stereotyped comedies are usually redeemed by the lighthearted mood and the chemistry between the characters, but this one felt a bit too stiff and unemotional. Not to mention that it requires so much suspension of disbelief that you might wonder if they actually hired professional writers for it. There are a couple of funny moments, but they are mostly thanks to the actors' improvisation and Murphy's generally strong performance. The rest generally falls flat or could have been handled better.

I appreciated, though, how it actually deals with serious topics like suicide, hookers, and insider trading in its own lighthearted way. There is also quite a lot of female nudity, swearing, and racial language for a family film, and I mean that as a compliment.

Lisa and Joe's very first date on Saturday, July 9th 1983 at the no longer, Regal movie theater on the corner of Maple Road & Alberta Drive in Amherst, NY

A homeless man is offered the opportunity to get rich.

Level "Interesting" • 7 :heart: • Entertaining and Good.