Trading Places

What would you do if suddenly, your life got turned upside down? Well, that is the exact premise of Trading Places (1983).

The Duke brothers Randolph (Ralph Bellamy, Pretty Woman) and Mortimer (Don Ameche, Coming to America) own Duke & Duke, a successful commodities brokerage. Holding opposing views on the nature versus nurture issue, they make a wager and agree to conduct an experiment switching the lives of two people at opposite sides of the social hierarchy and observing the results. They witness an encounter between their managing director — the well-mannered and educated Louis Winthrope III (Dan Aykroyd, Ghostbusters) and a poor street hustler named Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). Valentine is arrested at Winthorpe's insistence because of a suspected robbery attempt. The Dukes decide to use the two men for their experiment. When Louis is befriended by a prostitute named Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis, Freaky Friday), the wild adventures begin.

This movie brought a smile to my face with its great plot line and old school humor. Though the progression of the story is very predictable, it keeps you laughing with the great performances by Murphy and Ameche. Because the screenplay is well-written without any superfluously unnecessary scenes, the 118 minutes seem to breeze by without boring the audience into questioning when the movie would be over.

The setting of the film is also very fitting. In the '80s, New York was the center of the economic world, and this entire movie revolves around insider trading and brokerage firms. Also, surprisingly, this movie also gives a great insight into the lives of some of big brokers and how difficult their lives can be.

Trading Places stays true to the development of the characters and does not stray off in making them too outrageous. Ameche portrays a perfect, rich broker while Murphy does an exceptional job of playing the sly trickster who is always questioning his surroundings with a very down-to-earth mentality.

The supporting cast's acting is also spectacular. Curtis brings an extra zing by being that girl next door who you always judged but is nonetheless charming. The Duke Brothers play the perfect antagonists with their money-first mind set.

However, despite all the aforementioned excellent aspects of this movie, what makes this film outstanding is that it is so simple, yet so enjoyable. Trading Places' timeless tale and good humor will continue to make this movie a classic that will be watched for years to come.