DVD realization: Too darn expensive for what you get compared to the VHS version. Wait until the price goes down, or buy the VHS version and wait for the DVD to come down in price. The price versus benefit of the DVD over the VHS gets -1 star...yes, negative stars.

The Movie: All right, maybe not five stars, but as a comedy this movie is absolutely wonderful. I like comedies that make you think, and this one does. Filled with irony from the beginning to end, the humor substantially comes from irony. The movie makes fun of people in high places who, according to this movie, do not think like you and I and clearly have nothing better to do with their time than to manipulate people.

The Story: Dan Aykroyd is an executive in a New York investment firm. Clearly intelligent and well-bred, he lives a life style that most of us don't even dream about. Butler, very expensive home and suits, this guy is living a very high life. Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche are two brothers who own the investment firm. One day they see Eddie Murphy in front of skyscraper that houses their offices. After discussing the opportunities that people get in life, Ralph Bellamy bets Don Ameche that given the right circumstances that Eddie Murphy could have been Dan Aykroyd. What follows actually makes you feel sympathetic for Dan Aykroyd, even though he is clearly a snob.

Dan Aykroyd is set up and arrested, fired from his job, and kicked out of his house, He is completely cut off from the life he knows. Eddie Murphy is put into Dan Aykroyd's job and house. Poor Dan really hits a low until Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays a prostitute, takes pity on him and takes him in.

Fortunately for Dan, Eddie Murphy overhears Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche discussing the bet they made in the executive potty, and also using words that are less than flattering. Eddie realizes that he and Dan have been set up, and goes seeking Dan since Eddie does not plan on being manipulated by these two.

From this point on, the movie gets really good. Dan, Eddie, Jamie, and Denholm Elliott, Eddie's butler, decide to get revenge on Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche. Only minimal details from here on out in case you haven't seen the movie yet. The revenge plot is well set up and executed, all leading to a really uplifting scene in the commodities portion of the New York Stock Exchange.

The movie is generally predictable, but it is the how of the predictability that I was unable to foresee. People who are in the commodities business will probably scoff at some of the details, but for those of us who are ignorant of commodities, that part is funny and upbeat.

This early Eddie Murphy movie is well-done. Eddie generally stays away from the four-letter words he seems to use so much in some of his newer movies. Dan Aykroyd plays a character that at first you revile, and then want to like. I'll let you discover how Dan's character evolves.

This movie has a fair amount of intelligent humor. It relies very little on slapstick. It is one of my favorite comedies that I never seem to get tired of watching.

as for the movie.....

It starts out with rich guy WINTHORP (Dan Aykroyd) in his big house in the middle of new york with his butler COLEMAN, & it is definately as cheezy as cheezy can get, "Your breakfast, sir" as Coleman serves Winthorp in bed with a silly tray that looks like a shoppingcart,

Then of course it goes to the 2 old fogies, Mortimer Duke, & Randolf Duke's, Huge Mansion out in the middle of the country, & it is definately as rich as rich can get,
that was pretty funny.

Of course you cant forget EDDIE MURPHY's introduction,
"Once you've had a man with no legs, you don't go back"

My evil sense of humour tells me that my favorite part is when WINTHORP trys to commit suicide, but the gun wont go off, so he throws it in the trash can & then it goes off.
Which proves absolutely nothing is going his way,

The end was great when Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy) & Winthorp make the 2 rich fogies poor, as revenge for what they did to them.

If you dont know this yet, there is a sequel to the movie, It was not advertised as a sequel but there is one sequence in the middle of that film that proves it is such,

6 years later a prince from a far off kingdom travels to america in search of a queen, that is where the fairy tale ends & our story begins,
sound familliar, that's Eddie Murphy's best movie "Coming to America"
Those 2 old bums that he gave a large wad of cash to, just happened to be the DUKE brothers,
"RANDOLF LOOK", "Were Back!!"

You should check out that movie along with this one,

A fine cast backs up Dan and Eddie. Ralph Bellemy, Dan Ameche, Denholm Elliot (God Rest Their Souls), Jamie Lee Curtis (In her sexy Breakthrough Role), & Paul Gleason (His portrayal of Clarence Beeks could be how he got to be in The Breakfest Club). And great Cameos by Bo Diddley, Al Frankin & Tom Davis, and a rare small part by James Belushi (Possibly at Dan's Request). And who can forget the Landis trademarks like the still picture montages and of course "See You Next Wednesday".

I just know once I pop the DVD in my player, I'll be screaming at the end with Don Ameche, "TURN THOSE MACHINES BACK ON!! TURN THOSE MACHINES BACK ON!!"

Good Day Mr. Duke.