Trading Places
Metascore
66 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9
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  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    But what's most visible in the movie is the engaging acting. Murphy and Aykroyd are perfect foils for each other.
  2. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Jay Carr
    88
    It's easily the best of the movies I've seen by the various "Saturday Night Live" alumni, and part of the reason it's funny and satisfying is that it doesn't strain. [09 Jun 1983]
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  3. Empire
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    80
    Saturday Night Live activist Murphy, capitalising on the promise he showed in "48 Hrs.," steals the show as the quick-witted Billy Ray Valentine in what is certainly more mainstream fare than the earlier SNL staffed capers.
  4. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    80
    [Murphy] makes Trading Places something more than a good-hearted comedy. He turns it into an event.
  5. Variety
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    80
    Trading Places is a light romp geared up by the schtick shifted by Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy.
  6. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ethan Alter
    75
    Although it tends to rely heavily on slapstick in the second half, the movie provides plenty of laughs and is one of director Landis's best efforts.
  7. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Matthew Fraser
    75
    Trading Places, which is wildly funny at times, is Murphy's film. [10 Jun 1983]
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  8. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: David Sterritt
    50
    Directed by John Landis with a surprising amount of class, though he lets some of his old ''Animal House'' vulgarity slip ostentatiously into the action.
  9. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Dave Kehr
    30
    Director John Landis is so deficient in basic storytelling skills that he must spend hours explicating the most elementary plot points while and Murphy are sidelined.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. PatC.
    9
    The ease in which the hilarity oozes from this movie obscures its greater achievement, which is the deft way it presents its plot. It takes a broad spectrum of characters and plays them off each other in a merciless mix of outrageousness and serious restriant. This is textbook on how to tell a story. Top drawer comedy.… Full Review »
  2. Will
    3
    Many of the jokes fail and those that are funny are played out far too long. Nothing is done to make the "wrongfully accused" cliche more believable. There are a couple great scenes, and Aykroyd and Murphy both try hard, but their characters almost never interact with each other. Wasted potential.… Full Review »
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