Trading Places (1983)
As a kid, I probably watched Trading Places ten times and had no idea what was going on. My brother loved it, because he was slightly older than me and appreciated Jamie Lee Curtis’s nude scene. But all the stock market stuff (which is the entire plot) went right over my head.
Now, as a grown up, I understand why everyone was laughing so much! And, since The Prince and the Pauper is one of my favorite classic stories, I’m also able to appreciate that element of the story as well. It really is a funny and interesting theme to discuss, of whether or not a man with privileges can bring himself up from the bottom if everything is taken away from him. And the even more relevant question is whether or not a poor, uneducated man will drag himself down if he’s suddenly given every advantage. Nature versus nurture is the heart of the famous bet between onscreen brothers Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy. There is an element of racism involved in the story, which, unfortunately doesn’t seem out of place nearly forty years later. But even without race, there’s still a great discussion you can sink your teeth into – that is, if you can stop laughing long enough to start debating with your friends.
More Don Ameche movies here!
More Eddie Murphy movies here!
More Christmas movies here!
Now, as a grown up, I understand why everyone was laughing so much! And, since The Prince and the Pauper is one of my favorite classic stories, I’m also able to appreciate that element of the story as well. It really is a funny and interesting theme to discuss, of whether or not a man with privileges can bring himself up from the bottom if everything is taken away from him. And the even more relevant question is whether or not a poor, uneducated man will drag himself down if he’s suddenly given every advantage. Nature versus nurture is the heart of the famous bet between onscreen brothers Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy. There is an element of racism involved in the story, which, unfortunately doesn’t seem out of place nearly forty years later. But even without race, there’s still a great discussion you can sink your teeth into – that is, if you can stop laughing long enough to start debating with your friends.
More Don Ameche movies here!
More Eddie Murphy movies here!
More Christmas movies here!