The Blues Brothers

I saw it when it first came out (summer of 1980, if I'm not mistaken-- we were bored teenagers, and tended to see several movies every week on the little bit of money we could beg, borrow or steal...or sometimes earn), and I don't remember being all that impressed, or laughing all that much. I loved Belushi ("Animal House" remains one of my favorite comedies), and I liked and respected Aykroyd, but for me, the movie was too long, had more than enough car crashes, not enough genuinely funny comedy, and had music that I just wasn't all that into at that age. One critic asked, and I agree: Who in their right mind would cover up Belushi's chief comedic assett-- his eyes-- with dark sunglasses? As it turns out, maybe the sunglasses were for the best, since I've subsequently read that Belushi was perpetually stoned throughout the making of the film, and his eyes looked like black-rimmed craters. I've been able to gain an appreciation for blues music since then, and if anything good came of t... Read more

I'm going to go out on a limb here and give the project it's due for reviving the fortunes of the Blues in an age of, as Dan Ackroyd points out in the intro to the first album 'electronic, pre-programmed disco". It truly was the first time in a generation that the popular audience was exposed to "master bluesmen practicing their craft". It started out as a one off musical skit on SNL with Belushi and Ackroyd peeling off a couple of tunes with the house band. That turned into an album recorded at the Hollywood Bowl that was actually the opening act to a Steve Martin stand-up show back in the late 70's when he was the Biggest God-Damned Thing on the Planet. The album was a hit and like everything on SNL that clicks, it got turned into a movie. Unlike everything that clicks on SNL and turns into a movie, this one was actually good. The soundtack from it had more of the same from the Blues Brothers, but also career revitalizing performances from James Brown, Ray Charles, Aretha Fran... Read more

Oh, come on - be real; does or did anyone ever take this schtick seriously? We're talking about Dan Ackroyd and John (I'm a zit) Belushi. I loved the film (still do) and thought some of the music was fun. But, I'm pretty sure they weren't attempting to change careers from comics to musicians at the time. I felt a sense that they were doing it out of a real sense of love for the music though - but as a tribute only.

I agree with CS. The movie was fun, but that should have been the end of it. Now, if I may be excused for veering a bit off topic... I just saw Cadillac Records, and though it's riddled with historical inaccuracies, the essense of the times is captured, and Beyonce deserves an Oscar for her portrayal of Etta James. The guy who played Little Walter wasn't half bad either.

Another list picking on white people. Ugh....thanks CS

I love this movie. I laugh at all the things you laugh at. . .but it should've stopped at the movie. .. They released a f#ckin' album for Zeus' sake! It was a JOKE and they released "A Briefcase Full of Blues"! Don't take a joke too far. . .then again, I don't often take my own advice. . .