viciouskillersquirrel
Member
Basically what the thread title says. Let's celebrate what is arguably Eddie Murphy's shining moment in movie comedy.
This is a comedy that's infinitely rewatchable, filled to the brim with 80s awesomeness, consistently funny jokes, non-sequitors and jokes that are hilarious on many levels. Even to this day, I'm finding things to love about this movie. For instance, the joke surrounding Randolf and Mortimer Duke's cameo didn't even click for me until after I'd watched Trading Places and only recently did I realise that the "African dance" at the beginning is basically an adapted version of Thriller set to drums.
Not only that, but the chemistry between the various members of the cast is palpable. You can tell that they had a lot of fun making the movie.
Some of my favourite scenes:
So let's put a big hand together, for Jackson Heights' own, RANDY, WATSON!!!!!
----
[stepping out to fire escape after checking out room]
Akeem: Behold Semmi, life. Real life! A thing that we have been denied for far too long! [shouts] Good morning, my neighbors!
Neighbor's Voice: Hey, fuck you!
Akeem: [gleeful] Yes! Yes! Fuck you, too!
----
Clarence: You must be out your goddamn mind! Joe Louis is the greatest boxer that ever lived. [to Akeem and Semmi] I'll be with you boys in a minute. [to the other barbers] He was better than Cassius Clay, he was better than Sugar Ray, and that new dude-what's his name? Mike Tyson?-looks like a bulldog; he was better than him too.
Saul: Vait a minute, vait a minute. Vat about Rocky Marciano?
Clarence: Oh, there they go. There they go, every time I start talkin 'bout boxing, a white man got to pull Rocky Marciano out their ass. That's their one, that's their one. Rocky Marciano. Rocky Marciano. Let me tell you something once and for all. Rocky Marciano was good, but compared to Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano ain't shit.
Saul: [waggles finger] He beat Joe Louis' ass.
Morris: [nodding] That's right, he did whoop Joe Louis' ass.
Clarence: Joe Louis was 75 years old when they fought.
Morris: I don't know how old he was, but he got his ass whooped.
Clarence: Joe Louis had come out of retirement to fight Rocky Marciano the minute he was 76 years old. Joe Louis is always lying about his age. He lie about his age all the time. One time Frank Sinatra came in here and sat in this chair. I said Frank 'you hang out with Joe Louis, just between me and you, how old is Joe Louis.' You know what Frank told me, he said "Hey, Joe Louis is 137 years old." A hundred and thirty-seven years old!
Sweets: Oh. Man, you lying, you ain't never meet no Frank Sinatra.
Clarence: [points to Morris, Saul and Sweets] Fuck you, fuck you, and fuck you! [to Semmi and Akeem] Who's next?
----
Reverend Brown: [looking at the behinds of the Miss Black Awareness pageant contestants] I didn't come to preach to you today...But you know, when I look at these contestants! For the Miss Black Awareness Pageant, I feel good! I feel good, because I know there's a God somewhere! There's a God somewhere!
Turn around ladies for me please!
[cheering]
You know there's a God who sits on high and looks down low! Man cannot make it like this! Larry Flynt! Hugh Hefner! They can take the picture, but they can't make it! Only God above, the Hugh Hefner on high, can make it for ya!
----
King Jaffe Joffer: Semmi, you have disgraced yourself, and you must be punished. [Semmi looks ashamed] You will therefore confine yourself to our royal suite at the Waldorf-Astoria.
[to Oha]
King Jaffe Joffer: And see that he puts on some decent attire.
[to the rose bearers]
King Jaffe Joffer: And I want you to bathe him thoroughly.
Semmi: [Semmi looks gleeful] Oh, thank you, Your Majesty. [Semmi composes himself and looks ashamed again]
This is a comedy that's infinitely rewatchable, filled to the brim with 80s awesomeness, consistently funny jokes, non-sequitors and jokes that are hilarious on many levels. Even to this day, I'm finding things to love about this movie. For instance, the joke surrounding Randolf and Mortimer Duke's cameo didn't even click for me until after I'd watched Trading Places and only recently did I realise that the "African dance" at the beginning is basically an adapted version of Thriller set to drums.
Not only that, but the chemistry between the various members of the cast is palpable. You can tell that they had a lot of fun making the movie.
Some of my favourite scenes:
So let's put a big hand together, for Jackson Heights' own, RANDY, WATSON!!!!!
----
[stepping out to fire escape after checking out room]
Akeem: Behold Semmi, life. Real life! A thing that we have been denied for far too long! [shouts] Good morning, my neighbors!
Neighbor's Voice: Hey, fuck you!
Akeem: [gleeful] Yes! Yes! Fuck you, too!
----
Clarence: You must be out your goddamn mind! Joe Louis is the greatest boxer that ever lived. [to Akeem and Semmi] I'll be with you boys in a minute. [to the other barbers] He was better than Cassius Clay, he was better than Sugar Ray, and that new dude-what's his name? Mike Tyson?-looks like a bulldog; he was better than him too.
Saul: Vait a minute, vait a minute. Vat about Rocky Marciano?
Clarence: Oh, there they go. There they go, every time I start talkin 'bout boxing, a white man got to pull Rocky Marciano out their ass. That's their one, that's their one. Rocky Marciano. Rocky Marciano. Let me tell you something once and for all. Rocky Marciano was good, but compared to Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano ain't shit.
Saul: [waggles finger] He beat Joe Louis' ass.
Morris: [nodding] That's right, he did whoop Joe Louis' ass.
Clarence: Joe Louis was 75 years old when they fought.
Morris: I don't know how old he was, but he got his ass whooped.
Clarence: Joe Louis had come out of retirement to fight Rocky Marciano the minute he was 76 years old. Joe Louis is always lying about his age. He lie about his age all the time. One time Frank Sinatra came in here and sat in this chair. I said Frank 'you hang out with Joe Louis, just between me and you, how old is Joe Louis.' You know what Frank told me, he said "Hey, Joe Louis is 137 years old." A hundred and thirty-seven years old!
Sweets: Oh. Man, you lying, you ain't never meet no Frank Sinatra.
Clarence: [points to Morris, Saul and Sweets] Fuck you, fuck you, and fuck you! [to Semmi and Akeem] Who's next?
----
Reverend Brown: [looking at the behinds of the Miss Black Awareness pageant contestants] I didn't come to preach to you today...But you know, when I look at these contestants! For the Miss Black Awareness Pageant, I feel good! I feel good, because I know there's a God somewhere! There's a God somewhere!
Turn around ladies for me please!
[cheering]
You know there's a God who sits on high and looks down low! Man cannot make it like this! Larry Flynt! Hugh Hefner! They can take the picture, but they can't make it! Only God above, the Hugh Hefner on high, can make it for ya!
----
King Jaffe Joffer: Semmi, you have disgraced yourself, and you must be punished. [Semmi looks ashamed] You will therefore confine yourself to our royal suite at the Waldorf-Astoria.
[to Oha]
King Jaffe Joffer: And see that he puts on some decent attire.
[to the rose bearers]
King Jaffe Joffer: And I want you to bathe him thoroughly.
Semmi: [Semmi looks gleeful] Oh, thank you, Your Majesty. [Semmi composes himself and looks ashamed again]
