Trading Places

Not only are we reviewing Christmas movies this month, but Trading Places makes for the 2nd of 3 screwball comedies you will be able to find on this channel by the end of December. And like those other two, John Landis' romp tells a good story, but isn't very funny. Dan Aykroyd was established as a star, but Eddie Murphy was just starting his legendary movie career while Jamie Lee Curtis was making a successful transition from horror into comedy. Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy and plenty of others get chances to shine too in this very watchable comedy. They just didn't make us laugh. This episode isn't all fun and games either because we discussed the offensive content and we talked about Landis' involvement in The Twilight Zone tragedy. So bet a buck on the 556th edition of Have You Ever Seen as rich jerks toy with people's lives just because in the Christmassy blockbuster known as Trading Places.

Well, Actually: the great R-rated laugh in Coming To America that's discussed at the 15-minute mark is early on in the film before Akeem has fallen in love with Lisa. He's just yelling about how much he loves America before someone curses at him, then he joyfully curses back. Also, Eddie Murphy won the Cecil B DeMille Award at the Golden Globes earlier this year. Also also, Paul Gleason is the VICE Principal in The Breakfast Club.

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