Trading Places :: Eddie Murphy :: Coming To America

Another blog entry, another star who used to be awesome but really, really sucks now.  Hi Eddie Murphy!  Or, since it's Coming to America, I should say, "Hello Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Eddie Murphy, Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Arsenio Hall, and Eddie Murphy."

Despite Murphy's recent slate of films (Norbit?), I still love going back to his 80's stuff.  Coming to America is a classic.  An African prince wants to fall in love, rather than having an arranged marriage, so he and his friend go to find a queen in Queens, NY. Hilarity ensues.

Despite the great lead performances from Hall and Murphy, the real pleasure in this movie comes from all the side characters (including several played by Hall and Murphy as well).  Future "ER" star Eriq La Salle with his greasy Jheri curl hocking "Soul Glo" (complete with catchy jingle).  Frankie Faison as the greedy landlord.  The barber shop guys discussing their favorite boxers.  John Amos's "McDowell's" restaurant trying to avoid McDonald's lawsuits.  Samuel L. Jackson's foiled armed robbery.  And who can forget the musical stylings of Randy Watson and his band Sexual Chocolate, crooning "The Greatest Love of All."

Sexual Chocolate!  SEXUAL CHOCOLATE!!!

Sneakers :: Dan Aykroyd :: Trading Places

Dan Aykroyd connects from Sneakers to one of the best comedies of the 80's, Trading Places.

Aykroyd is in great form, Eddie Murphy is at the top of his game, plus after years as the "Scream Queen," we actually get to see a topless Jamie Lee Curtis.

I love the "nature vs. nurture" wager and the twist on the "Prince and the Pauper" storyline.  Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche are perfect as the Duke Brothers.  Denholm Elliott is hilarious as Coleman, the butler.  We get pimps and parties, a hooker with a heart of gold, ahomicidal Santa, drunk baggage handlers, and Paul Gleason (the principal from Breakfast Club) getting raped by a gorilla.

Even after watching this movie as many times as I have, I still don't exactly understand the whole stock market sequence at the end.  All I know is that Murphy and Aykroyd get rich and the Dukes get poor.  That's really all you need to know to enjoy it, I suppose.