MovieChat Forums > Trading Places (1983) Discussion > They don't make them like this anymore, ...

They don't make them like this anymore, just crazy. Fun.


What a movie, so many fantastic scenes or ridiculous characters.
They aged the film with some of the jokes which just wouldn't cut it nowadays, I was shocked at a few lines but unlike some people I just accepted that's how it was then and ignored it. (N... jokes, F.... jokes)

HOWEVER

I mean wow, I love how the opening of the film sets up the guys as uncaring without really any dialogue except "good morning mr <>" for the opening 5 minutes.

There's SO MANY characters just SO many! and it's so obvious from a film like this that they were NOT ALL ACTORS (!!!)
A film just could not have a cast this big, this diverse nowadays, it wouldn't play. There were NORMAL people there, some attractive, some downright ugly - but many people were just normal and it was great.

The people at the party, some were obviously models or actors but some of them were pretty regular looking. The opening scenes with people stacking fish at the meat shop or grocery store? The people in the Police station, like fat curious Russian man.

The story has a good arc, the acting is (mostly) pretty darn good. Jamie Lee Curtis is more than just looks, she's got a brain which is great. (Also, sorry to be childish but that chest? I'd forgotten, my goodness)

Just a big dumb silly film, I get an almost Canonball Run vibe from the cast and characters as well as outsiders who just perform on the day. (Look at all the partygoers on the train)

BONUS - it's a Christmas movie, I had no idea, so I can add it to Die Hard and Gremlins each year.
Overall I gave it 4/5 - it's not perfect but damn it's still worth a watch after all these years.

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I just accepted that's how it was then


Accept that back then they were trying to make racists look bad? Yes, I can accept that. In fact I applaud it. What's the issue?

Screw you guys. I liked Blues Brothers 2000. :)

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I mean that is a good point, the racists were the 'bad guys' but still quite a few drops of N and F in general, but it was over 30 years ago.
I loved the CRT TVs too and the presumably brand new oven in the intro as well. Classic stuff.

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Over 30 years ago this was a movie taking a stand against racism and classism. It still is. It has zero to apologize or excuse itself for. Quite the opposite.

The mere presence of a naughty word doesn't mean a movie is offensive. You have to look at the context. And by that I don't mean "It's an old movie." I mean, as you observed, it's the bad guys who use words like that.

Getting that out of the way, I am glad you enjoyed it. :)

Screw you guys. I liked Blues Brothers 2000. :)

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Your title reminds me of this Greg Kihn Band song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgbsEz15SGg

"They don't write like that anymore. They just don't write like that anymore."

They call me the Mayor, 'Cause I spend all my days here

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