WB Reviews: Trading Places.
Werebelushi:
Hello everybody...welcome back to Aykroyd-Mania here on my show. You may remember last time when I talked about Doctor Detroit with Eucalyptus and now we are back to review another Aykroyd vehicle from the 80's. And it's one directed by John Landis, ah...John Landis, my old friend and favorite director. This movie is one where Aykroyd is the star but he stars with another SNL veteran...Eddie Murphy and this is Eddie in his prime.
Eucalyptus:
Not to mention Aykroyd is at his most adorable in this movie.
Werebelushi:
We'll get to that....this is 1983's holiday hit Trading Places. Prior to this Aykroyd had been in Doctor Detroit which I feel gets hated on too much, originally this movie was to star Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder but I think that it's for the best they went with Aykroyd and Murphy, Landis is of course an accomplished director when it comes to both comedies and horror, but specifically in the field of comedies since he did direct Animal House, Blues Brothers, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, Into The Night, and Oscar among others. And i'm sorry but I never got the whole putting the blame on him for the Twilight Zone movie deaths thing...I just never did, especially since he himself regrets it. They act like Landis is an uncaring monster but that's not the case, if he truly was a psychopath the whole thing wouldn't have been an accident, it would have been on purpose.
Anyway...this movie really helped make Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy household names and is considered a holiday classic, it's even considered a tradition in Italy. And oh boooy, shall we review this one together?
Eucalyptus:
Oh yes please. *she excitedly jumps up and down* The movie tells the story of two complete opposites, Billy Ray Valentine played by Eddie Murphy who is a con-man who just wants his luck to change and Louis Winthorpe III played by Aykroyd, a sophisticated and wealthy buisness-man. These two complete opposites run into each-other. Cue our dastardly antagonists the Duke brothers, oh boy do I hate these two dickheads.
Werebelushi:
Same, look at how repulsive they act and everything. Total pricks if you ask me, so the Dukes decide to have a little bet. What is their dastardly plan? Basically they set up a bet that the two leads swap roles/places. And also really...a dollar? Not even Kr Krabs is that petty, although to be honest Mr Krabs did sell Spongebob for 62 cents in the episode Born Again Krabs.
And well...things start changing for both of them, Billy Ray's luck gets better and he gets to mingle with sophisticated people and is quite good at being a businessman, while Louis gets bad luck after bad luck...being accused of being a drug-dealer and a thief, his life gets worse and worse.
Eucalyptus:
And how...he practically has a breakdown and has to resort to means such as stealing food in order to get by. The poor guy breaks down and it's so heartbreaking, especially this part. *she shows the scene of him looking on in through the window all wet and with a sad look on his face* Oh god, it's heartbreaking and tragic yet adorable...it's the....sad Aykroyd face! *she sighs* Not even Mel can resist that. Just look at him *she sobs* Poor thing, come to Mama Eukie, I will make things better.
Werebelushi:
I agree with you on the scene but there's no way that face would work on me. *Eukie shows that scene again, he starts crying* No...I promised myself I wouldn't cry, I promised myself I wouldn't cry. *he sobs* Damn it Aykroyd, why do you have to tug at my heartstrings like that, why? Why? *he cries* I can do this, I can do this. So Louis breaks down in addition to getting a black eye, he pretty much tries to sabotage a Christmas party, while dressed in a Santa suit and a dog pees on him...ouch. But that is nothing compared to the ultimate wham in the face, good lord what a whammy it is!
He pretty much attempts to commit suicide quite a few times...ouch, I wouldn't say your life is all that terrible at the moment Louis, you still have Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis). I feel so awful for him. I'm with you on that Eukie.
Eucalyptus:
And just look at him in the Santa suit looking all depressed like that, it's like he is thinking about his life and how beautiful it used to be. I know just the song...*All By Myself by Eric Carmen plays* Oops, wrong sad song. *Memory from Cats plays and she sings along to it* Memory, all alone in the moonlight...I can think of the old days, I was beautiful then. I remember the time I knew what happiness was, let the memory live again.
Mel:
Oh boy...she's going into musical Aykroyd mode again.
Werebelushi:
Musical Aykroyd mode? Is that where she breaks out into musical numbers?
Mel:
Yep.
(Eucalyptus gets possessed by Dan Aykroyd and starts going into musical Aykroyd mode)
Eucalyptus: *singing, in musical Aykroyd mode*
Midnight, not a sound from the pavement.
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone.
In the lamplight, the withered leaves collect at my feet.
And the wind begins to moan. *she sings as Archie and Clarabelle her Audrey II plants sway along to the song*
Mel:
And there go the plants...I have to say Archie can sway pretty well.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Memory, all alone in the moonlight.
I can dream of the old days.
I was beautiful then.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
Let the memory live again.
*she sings and sways from side to side, even doing some Aykroyd-like moves to the song*
Mel:
*she watches Eukie singing*
Werebelushi:
You never told me she could sing like that.
Mel:
Well she is a trained professional singer.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Every streetlamp seems to beat.
A fatalistic warning.
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters.
And soon. It will be morning. *a ghostly dancer materializes and dances with her, that dancer being one of Aykroyd's characters, she dances in a graceful manner mimicking the movements of the cats in the musical*
Werebelushi:
She should consider going on Broadway, heh heh.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Daylight.
I must wait for the sunrise.
I must think of a new life.
And I mustn't give in.
When the dawn comes. Tonight will be a memory too. And a new day will begin. *she swirls around with ghostly dancers*
Mel:
*she claps as Eukie performs* You haven't seen anything yet, just wait...just wait for the final part, that's where she really shines. I have seen even people with the most jaded taste in music praise her for her work as a musician.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Burnt out ends of smokey days.
The stale cold smell of morning.
The street lamp dies, another night is over.
Another day is dawning.
Touuuuuuuch me, it's so easy to leave me.
All alone with the memory.
Of my days in the sun.
If touch me, you'll understand what happiness is.
Look, a new day has begun.
Werebelushi:
Woah...Eukie, you're quite talented. I genuinely came close to breaking out into tears when you sang. You should go on Broadway or on the West End because you have got the chops for musical theater. Look out Nicole Scherzinger, you've got competition. Anyway, Eukie..I agree with you about this scene being so heartbreaking. So after attempting to kill himself quite a few times, he is seen in bed...in his night-shirt and pants waking up from the last bad attempt he had, in which he states he thinks it was all a dream. That is until he sees Billy Ray and is pissed off.
Eucalyptus:
I personally never got why he was strangling Billy, it's the Dukes's fault. Billy Ray even says it was the Dukes's fault. And he's right...as he reveals that the Dukes set them up, and for a dollar too, you're right...not even Mr Krabs is that petty. So basically they set up a revenge plot. How do they do this? Ophelia, Louis and Billy all disguise themselves and onboard a train to execute this scheme, one that happens to have a costume party. The guy in the gorilla suit cracks me up, and then there's James Belushi's appearance as a party-goer, which was also pretty funny.
Werebelushi:
Unfortunately they get busted and Beeks attempts to kill them, but not before the group stick the gorilla suit on him and then well...the two exact their revenge, in the form of the ultimate bid, they bid on frozen orange juice using the exact same tactics those underhanded Duke brothers used. And the Duke brothers get their comeuppance and the trio get to be rich, well richer. And that was Trading Places, what can I say? It's a classic and if you haven't seen it already you should.
Eucalyptus:
Yeah...this movie has everything. The only problems I had with it was Louis wanting to off himself after having his mental breakdown and the scene where he nearly strangers Billy, but the movie is a timeless classic and regardless of what time of year it is , you should watch it. And of course Louis is one of my crushes, then again I crush on quite a few Dan Aykroyd characters. I can't help it, he's adorable.
Werebelushi:
Check this movie out if you haven't, this has been our review on Trading Places. If you like Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy or John Landis or are just looking for a fun alternative to the usual in terms of Christmas/holiday movies, this is the movie for you. I give it two monstrous clawed thumbs up and a seal of approval. If you think this is over, no...it's not, Aykroyd Mania is only kicking off and you're going to see a lot more...so watch this space.
Hello everybody...welcome back to Aykroyd-Mania here on my show. You may remember last time when I talked about Doctor Detroit with Eucalyptus and now we are back to review another Aykroyd vehicle from the 80's. And it's one directed by John Landis, ah...John Landis, my old friend and favorite director. This movie is one where Aykroyd is the star but he stars with another SNL veteran...Eddie Murphy and this is Eddie in his prime.
Eucalyptus:
Not to mention Aykroyd is at his most adorable in this movie.
Werebelushi:
We'll get to that....this is 1983's holiday hit Trading Places. Prior to this Aykroyd had been in Doctor Detroit which I feel gets hated on too much, originally this movie was to star Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder but I think that it's for the best they went with Aykroyd and Murphy, Landis is of course an accomplished director when it comes to both comedies and horror, but specifically in the field of comedies since he did direct Animal House, Blues Brothers, Spies Like Us, Three Amigos, Into The Night, and Oscar among others. And i'm sorry but I never got the whole putting the blame on him for the Twilight Zone movie deaths thing...I just never did, especially since he himself regrets it. They act like Landis is an uncaring monster but that's not the case, if he truly was a psychopath the whole thing wouldn't have been an accident, it would have been on purpose.
Anyway...this movie really helped make Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy household names and is considered a holiday classic, it's even considered a tradition in Italy. And oh boooy, shall we review this one together?
Eucalyptus:
Oh yes please. *she excitedly jumps up and down* The movie tells the story of two complete opposites, Billy Ray Valentine played by Eddie Murphy who is a con-man who just wants his luck to change and Louis Winthorpe III played by Aykroyd, a sophisticated and wealthy buisness-man. These two complete opposites run into each-other. Cue our dastardly antagonists the Duke brothers, oh boy do I hate these two dickheads.
Werebelushi:
Same, look at how repulsive they act and everything. Total pricks if you ask me, so the Dukes decide to have a little bet. What is their dastardly plan? Basically they set up a bet that the two leads swap roles/places. And also really...a dollar? Not even Kr Krabs is that petty, although to be honest Mr Krabs did sell Spongebob for 62 cents in the episode Born Again Krabs.
And well...things start changing for both of them, Billy Ray's luck gets better and he gets to mingle with sophisticated people and is quite good at being a businessman, while Louis gets bad luck after bad luck...being accused of being a drug-dealer and a thief, his life gets worse and worse.
Eucalyptus:
And how...he practically has a breakdown and has to resort to means such as stealing food in order to get by. The poor guy breaks down and it's so heartbreaking, especially this part. *she shows the scene of him looking on in through the window all wet and with a sad look on his face* Oh god, it's heartbreaking and tragic yet adorable...it's the....sad Aykroyd face! *she sighs* Not even Mel can resist that. Just look at him *she sobs* Poor thing, come to Mama Eukie, I will make things better.
Werebelushi:
I agree with you on the scene but there's no way that face would work on me. *Eukie shows that scene again, he starts crying* No...I promised myself I wouldn't cry, I promised myself I wouldn't cry. *he sobs* Damn it Aykroyd, why do you have to tug at my heartstrings like that, why? Why? *he cries* I can do this, I can do this. So Louis breaks down in addition to getting a black eye, he pretty much tries to sabotage a Christmas party, while dressed in a Santa suit and a dog pees on him...ouch. But that is nothing compared to the ultimate wham in the face, good lord what a whammy it is!
He pretty much attempts to commit suicide quite a few times...ouch, I wouldn't say your life is all that terrible at the moment Louis, you still have Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis). I feel so awful for him. I'm with you on that Eukie.
Eucalyptus:
And just look at him in the Santa suit looking all depressed like that, it's like he is thinking about his life and how beautiful it used to be. I know just the song...*All By Myself by Eric Carmen plays* Oops, wrong sad song. *Memory from Cats plays and she sings along to it* Memory, all alone in the moonlight...I can think of the old days, I was beautiful then. I remember the time I knew what happiness was, let the memory live again.
Mel:
Oh boy...she's going into musical Aykroyd mode again.
Werebelushi:
Musical Aykroyd mode? Is that where she breaks out into musical numbers?
Mel:
Yep.
(Eucalyptus gets possessed by Dan Aykroyd and starts going into musical Aykroyd mode)
Eucalyptus: *singing, in musical Aykroyd mode*
Midnight, not a sound from the pavement.
Has the moon lost her memory?
She is smiling alone.
In the lamplight, the withered leaves collect at my feet.
And the wind begins to moan. *she sings as Archie and Clarabelle her Audrey II plants sway along to the song*
Mel:
And there go the plants...I have to say Archie can sway pretty well.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Memory, all alone in the moonlight.
I can dream of the old days.
I was beautiful then.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
Let the memory live again.
*she sings and sways from side to side, even doing some Aykroyd-like moves to the song*
Mel:
*she watches Eukie singing*
Werebelushi:
You never told me she could sing like that.
Mel:
Well she is a trained professional singer.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Every streetlamp seems to beat.
A fatalistic warning.
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters.
And soon. It will be morning. *a ghostly dancer materializes and dances with her, that dancer being one of Aykroyd's characters, she dances in a graceful manner mimicking the movements of the cats in the musical*
Werebelushi:
She should consider going on Broadway, heh heh.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Daylight.
I must wait for the sunrise.
I must think of a new life.
And I mustn't give in.
When the dawn comes. Tonight will be a memory too. And a new day will begin. *she swirls around with ghostly dancers*
Mel:
*she claps as Eukie performs* You haven't seen anything yet, just wait...just wait for the final part, that's where she really shines. I have seen even people with the most jaded taste in music praise her for her work as a musician.
Eucalyptus: *singing*
Burnt out ends of smokey days.
The stale cold smell of morning.
The street lamp dies, another night is over.
Another day is dawning.
Touuuuuuuch me, it's so easy to leave me.
All alone with the memory.
Of my days in the sun.
If touch me, you'll understand what happiness is.
Look, a new day has begun.
Werebelushi:
Woah...Eukie, you're quite talented. I genuinely came close to breaking out into tears when you sang. You should go on Broadway or on the West End because you have got the chops for musical theater. Look out Nicole Scherzinger, you've got competition. Anyway, Eukie..I agree with you about this scene being so heartbreaking. So after attempting to kill himself quite a few times, he is seen in bed...in his night-shirt and pants waking up from the last bad attempt he had, in which he states he thinks it was all a dream. That is until he sees Billy Ray and is pissed off.
Eucalyptus:
I personally never got why he was strangling Billy, it's the Dukes's fault. Billy Ray even says it was the Dukes's fault. And he's right...as he reveals that the Dukes set them up, and for a dollar too, you're right...not even Mr Krabs is that petty. So basically they set up a revenge plot. How do they do this? Ophelia, Louis and Billy all disguise themselves and onboard a train to execute this scheme, one that happens to have a costume party. The guy in the gorilla suit cracks me up, and then there's James Belushi's appearance as a party-goer, which was also pretty funny.
Werebelushi:
Unfortunately they get busted and Beeks attempts to kill them, but not before the group stick the gorilla suit on him and then well...the two exact their revenge, in the form of the ultimate bid, they bid on frozen orange juice using the exact same tactics those underhanded Duke brothers used. And the Duke brothers get their comeuppance and the trio get to be rich, well richer. And that was Trading Places, what can I say? It's a classic and if you haven't seen it already you should.
Eucalyptus:
Yeah...this movie has everything. The only problems I had with it was Louis wanting to off himself after having his mental breakdown and the scene where he nearly strangers Billy, but the movie is a timeless classic and regardless of what time of year it is , you should watch it. And of course Louis is one of my crushes, then again I crush on quite a few Dan Aykroyd characters. I can't help it, he's adorable.
Werebelushi:
Check this movie out if you haven't, this has been our review on Trading Places. If you like Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy or John Landis or are just looking for a fun alternative to the usual in terms of Christmas/holiday movies, this is the movie for you. I give it two monstrous clawed thumbs up and a seal of approval. If you think this is over, no...it's not, Aykroyd Mania is only kicking off and you're going to see a lot more...so watch this space.
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