for the big screen. Dan Akroyd is a genius when it comes to writing comedy and with the help of National Lampoons icon John Belushi, how could he have failed.
Jake Blues (Belushi) is finally released from a gigantic state prison, just for his brother Elwood (Akroyd) to come and collect him in a police car. When Jake asks Elwood what happened to there old ‘Blues mobile’, Elwood explains he traded the old car for a microphone!
Elwood takes Jake straight to see their mother, a strict nun who heads a rundown orphanage, much to Jakes displeasure.
Whilst inside both brothers manage to offend their over powering mother resulting in Jake falling down some stairs.
They find out the orphanage is struggling to stay open and all the young children could become homeless.
The wayward siblings wander into a local church where James Brown is giving a serman and mid-way through the unimpressed Elwood suddenly sees a bright light shining directly onto him.
He feels overwhelmed with inspiration. That heavenly bright light is a ‘sign’ from god.
“The band, lets reform the band!”…..And with that the comedy begins…
A trigger happy psychotic girlfriend of Jake’s, played wonderfully by Carrie Fisher. A troop of Neo-Nazi’s wanting the brothers blood. Bumberling ‘Orange whip’ drinking police chief, played by comic genius John Candy. A gang of crazy red-neck musicians, the S.W.A.T team, FBI agents and every policeman are after our hero’s.
They hold a ‘one night only gig’ and all the money raised goes to the orphanage.
Has the band got any chance of getting back together?
Can the brothers re-form and make it to the gig?
Will the orphanage survive.
The movie contains one of the biggest car chases, and subsequent wrecking’s, in all movie history. Toy shops, Malls, Cafés, houses, police cars. Nothing survives in this movie. It should be re-titled ‘The Titanic Brothers’.
The writing is superb and the performances from all involved are excellent. A wash of musical icons.
Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, James Brown. Everyone outstanding.
For keen movie-buffs watch near the end and you will see a certain Steven Spielberg making a cameo, but then again what did he ever go on to do?
John Landis handles the direction smoothly and it’s odd to think he would later go on to direct ‘American Werewolf in London’. Along with Akroyd they make a powerful comedic team. But it would be a huge error to forget John Belushi.
It is such a tragedy that the comedian died of a cocaine overdose soon after the movie. He was originally going to play Peter Venkman in the original ‘Ghostbusters’ movie if it had not been for his death.
Everything about ‘Blues Brothers’ is great. The music is one of the high points, with some classic soul, gospel and rhythm and blues. Forget ‘Blues Brothers 2000’ – That was just Hollywood big-wigs throwing money at Akroyd for the movie to be made. Unfortunately he agreed, and didn't see sense, and made one of the worst movies ever. A weak cardboard cut-out of the original masterpiece.
