Metacritic reviews

But what's most visible in the movie is the engaging acting. Murphy and Aykroyd are perfect foils for each other.

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]

It's the funniest new movie on town. [July 22, 1983]

Trading Places is a light romp geared up by the schtick shifted by Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy.

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.

[Murphy] makes Trading Places something more than a good-hearted comedy. He turns it into an event.

Trading Places, which is wildly funny at times, is Murphy's film. [10 Jun 1983]

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.

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.

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.