The Blues Brothers
There aren’t many Saturday Night Live sketches that could effectively transfer onto the big screen. After all, we aren’t going to see Penelope’s adventures as she tries to outdo everyone on the planet and nor are we going to have a two hour version of Dick in a Box. For every Wayne’s World, bringing a beloved character to the movies, there is always going to be an It’s Pat movie which is beyond tragic. This all being said, there isn’t a better movie that brings Saturday Night Live characters on their own silver screen adventure than the toe tapping hilarious The Blues Brothers.
The Blues Brothers stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as Jake and Elwood Blues, two black suited, sunglasses wearing brothers. When Jake is released from prison, Elwood takes him back to the orphanage in which they grew up. Finding out from “The Penguin” that the orphanage is about to be closed, Jake gets a mission from God to raise the $5000 in order to keep it open. The brilliant vision tells him to get his old band back together which is hard because they have disbanded bitterly since Jake’s arrest. Cue travelling across Chicago in attempts to get them back together. It would seem easy if they weren’t being hunted down by the Police, Neo-Nazi’s, a country band and state troopers....
The Blues Brothers is one of the best comedy musical movies that you will watch in this lifetime. Highly energetic, this John Landis’ directed movie comes with much rhythm. The Blues Brothers seemingly has everything; there is crass and intelligent humour, slapstick and witty jokes, explosions and car chases, family and warmth and some hugely big dance numbers to keep you snapping your fingers. Ranked highly on many lists of action sequences, comedy moments and musicals, The Blues Brothers takes epic, wraps it up in awesome and hands it too you happily.
Alongside greats such as Ray Charles and Arethea Franklin, Aykroyd and Belushi bring the heart and soul of Chicago to the big screen. From the whooping races through the city to the fast paced songs, there is a slice of the city life in every scene. Though The Blues Brothers is often called vapid, humourless and simplistic, there is a taste of the life beneath the skyline in this greatly misunderstood movie. While the film is saturated with car chases and guns, causing much criticism, this just adds to the ridiculousness of the mission and the soul of Chicago.
Ok, so, yes, The Blues Brothers can ramble along with its self indulgence and self destructive pulse. But whether or not you are sick of the car chases or Carrie Fishers unrelenting stalking of Jake and Elwood, throwing whatever arsenal she has, the slick and deadpan brothers hold their own and thus hold the movie together. The brilliance of Aykroyd and Belushi effectively takes the movie above its criticism. Its zany comedy has lasted through the years and still proves a hit with audiences. The Blues Brothers is cool, easy and a laugh riot with fabulous music.
Come on, give it some lovin’.
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