Few classic films are as unlikely as The Blues Brothers. I doubt that anyone in 1980 would have predicted at the time that two and a half hour musical adaptation of a Saturday Night Live skit would so endure itself to so many people. And frankly, I have heard time understanding why this movie is so popular- there are some laughs, yes, but the movie is not as hilarious as its reputation would suggest, and there is some okay music, but nothing earth shattering.
The funniest thing about The Blues Brothers are The Blues Brothers themselves, or rather, the idea of them. There is something that about these two odd looking white guys, one tall and skinny, the other short and stocky, who wear sunglasses at all times and never smile, but sure play the blues and dance well. But the jokes they tell and the occurrences they find themselves are in never as funny as the characters personalities- they don't belong in such a complicated world, only wanting to do one thing- play the blues.
Their names are Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Ackroyd, who wrote the script along with director Landis). The movie opens as Jake is being released from prison for robbing a 7-11, and Elwood is there to pick him up- in an old police car he bought at an auction (it's later revealed that he traded his good car for a microphone). It's revealed that they only had two protectors growing up, a local blues master (Cab Calloway) and a nun known only as The Penguin (Kathleen Freeman). The Penguin tells the brothers that the orphanage she runs is in serious trouble, owning $5000 in back taxes, and that her organization will be shut down in a few days if the city of Chicago isn't paid the money. Jake is at first indifferent to her plight, but then has a vision at church- he'll get the money by getting his old band together. The Brothers efforts are thwarted by the police, who are looking for them after a high speed chase through a shopping mall, some neo-Nazi's they drove off a bridge, and a mysterious woman (Carrie Fisher) who tries to assassinate them, with no apparent cause.
There's really not much of a plot to the movie, just collection of scenes, many of which involve either car chasses or guest appearances by real blues musicians, who each contribute a song. In addition to Calloway, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, and Ray Charles also appear. Unfortunately, none of them turns in a particularly inspired performance. There's a lot energy of course, but none of the new versions matches the original recording (I was reminded of Paul McCartney inexplicably remaking "Yesterday" in Give My Regards to Broad Street). The car chases are impressive in their Keatonian scope (this must have been one of the most expensive comedies ever at the time of its release), but aren't really funny. There's the "wow" factor that comes from seeing a million zillion police cars in a chase, but nothing really witty there.
The movie is also WAY too long. Two and a half hours sounds too long for ANY comedy, and certainly for this. I can't think of a single great comedy that lasts longer than two hours (suggestions, anyone?) and I wonder what Landis was thinking when it came to this.
Which makes me wonder if I am missing something, but because a lot people don't just like this movie, they love it (it is the favorite film of both my 7th grade history and Edwin's mother). To me the movie didn't seem funny enough, or moving enough for it classify for that status to anyone, although I must admit I am in the minority.
The Blues Brothers (1980)