The pacing is too slow and the humor spread too thin to sustain this trite script, even if its box office takings relate the opposite, boosting the careers of virtually the entire cast.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/10 | Jul 15, 2025

Trading Places cushions the social satire of its theme with broad comedy.

Full Review | Mar 15, 2023

Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd are quite the duo in this funny Christmas film with some strong themes under its hood. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Dec 9, 2021

Trading Places, in this of all Hollywood years, is a joy to behold -- clever without being smart, affectionate without being sentimental, They can make movies like they used to after all.

Full Review | Aug 20, 2021

Since 48 hrs. had yet to be released, Landis and the studio took a big risk casting Murphy, fortunately, the gamble (pun intended) paid off.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Dec 9, 2020

The two stars (especially Murphy) are terrific, and the supporting cast provides additional flavor.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Dec 5, 2020

...Trading Places is still funny with thanks to Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy but some of the film's racial aspects are problematic in this era.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 1, 2020

Juxtaposing iconic architecture and historic statues with this heavily loaded satire examining the intersection of race and class situate Trading Places firmly in its American context.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | May 23, 2020

Trading Places is an excellent comedy -- a bit cold and cerebral, but well-constructed and organized. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Sep 24, 2019

What really resonates about this comedy, some 30 years after its release, is how it was able to intuitively crystallise the whole socio-political landscape of the era.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 10, 2018

Landis' direction is deft, but the sparkling performances are the real draw not only by Murphy and Aykroyd but also by Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy as the meddling oldsters, Denholm Elliott as the gentlemanly servant and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Full Review | Oct 23, 2018

Trading Places is a comedy of unavoidable fits and starts.

Full Review | Nov 23, 2015

This blatant, unacknowledged reworking of The Prince and the Pauper is a rattling comedy showcase for the unique talents of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, who have seldom recaptured the form they show here.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 3, 2013

While the two-hour running time overstretches the material, there are plenty of laughs -- as well as sly digs at the racism and greed of the American establishment.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 3, 2013

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.

Full Review | Aug 3, 2013

It's all outrageously contrived, and only surprising restraint by director John Landis makes it work. The writing is superb, too, leaving the two funnymen free to do the most inspired textured portrayals either has managed in movies.

Full Review | Aug 3, 2013

Edgy, bawdy '80s comedy not meant for kids.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jan 1, 2011

...a fun-filled film all the way around.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 6, 2010

Preposterous lighthearted one-joke comedy.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | Feb 14, 2010

...one of the most impressive comedies to emerge out of the 1980s.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 2, 2009