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MOVIES / ON DVD / THE BLUES BROTHERS
The Blues Brothers

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The Blues Brothers (1980)

78%
67%
92%
N/A
N/A
N/A
78 %
Reviews Counted: 37 Fresh: 29  Rotten:8 Average Rating: 6.8/10
 
Consensus: Too over the top for its own good, but ultimately rescued by the cast's charm, director John Landis' grace, and several soul-stirring musical numbers.
 

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 4 hrs 41 mins

Synopsis: In roles made famous by their famed SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skit, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi star as Ellwood and Jake Blues in this extremely entertaining and successful comedy. Upon Jake's release from prison, the brothers are reunited and visit the orphanage they grew up in--only to discover... In roles made famous by their famed SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE skit, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi star as Ellwood and Jake Blues in this extremely entertaining and successful comedy. Upon Jake's release from prison, the brothers are reunited and visit the orphanage they grew up in--only to discover that it is in danger of being shut down by the county for failure to pay taxes. With a little help from James Brown as a revival preacher, the Blues Brothers are divinely inspired to raise the $5,000 that the orphanage needs to stay open. On their mission from God, they must reunite their old band and raise the money by playing various gigs around town. The wild adventures of the band include dodging evil neo-Nazis, playing in a rowdy redneck bar, and narrowly escaping the crazed Carrie Fisher as Jake's ex-fiancée, who is out to see him dead. Finally, the boys have to get to a gig at the Palace Hotel Ballroom and deliver the $5,000 to the county assessor's office--leading to one of the most wild and hysterical car-chase smash-ups in film history. John Landis has spiced this wonderful romp with fabulous rhythm-and-blues numbers from such greats as Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Cab Calloway, and Ray Charles. [More]

Genre: Comedies

Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles

Director: John Landis
Screenwriter: Dan Aykroyd, John Landis
Producer: Robert K. Weiss
Composer: Elmer Bernstein

DVD Info

Release:

Jun 8, 2007

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85
  • Disc 1: EXPANDED VERSION - (2 Hours 28 Minutes)
  • Dual/Dual (Double Sided)

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
  • Disc 2: THEATRICAL RELEASE (2 Hours 13 Minutes)

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
  • Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - French
  • Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo - Spanish

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Ratings Image
4/5

Still sounds great, and looks as good as ever through Ray-Bans.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/08
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

Dramatically, The Blues Brothers is a mess, but its comic energy, a cast that includes James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles, and a hilarious performance by Belushi lifted this to the cult status it justly deserves.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

A dispiriting indulgence.

Full Review | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

A cult musical comedy film with a still-growing reputation.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/08
Douglas Pratt
DVDLaser
Ratings Image
2.5/4

A monument to waste, noise and misplaced cool, but it does have its engagingly nutty moments.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

Given all the chaos, director and, with Aykroyd, cowriter, John Landis manages to keep things reasonably controlled and in a straight line.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/08
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
N/A

The humor is predicated on underplaying in overscaled situations, which is sporadically funny in a Keaton-esque way but soon sputters out through sheer, uninspired repetition.

Full Review | comment Comment
04/01/08
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Ratings Image
B-

Context is crucial: This messy, self-indulgent comedy was made at the height of SNL and Muppet Show, catapulting to pop-culture icon status Belushi, Aykroyd and Candy, though best moments are those of performers like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles.

Full Review | comment Comment
03/29/08
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image
5/5

I am never not amused by the Blues Brothers.

Full Review | comment Comment
12/06/05
Brad Laidman
Film Threat
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
08/23/05
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Ratings Image
4.5/5

Frequently over-the-top and aggressively raucous, it's one of my very favorite comedies -- and musicals.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/12/05
Scott Weinberg
DVDTalk.com
Ratings Image
2/5

No review available.

comment Comment
06/14/05
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Ratings Image
4/5

You've never known fun until you've watched this!

comment Comment
03/23/05
Clint Morris
Moviehole
Ratings Image
3/5

No review available.

comment Comment
11/12/04
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Ratings Image
3/4

There's even room, in the midst of the carnage and mayhem, for a surprising amount of grace, humor, and whimsy.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
1/5

No review available.

comment Comment
09/28/04
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews
Ratings Image
2/5

This essentially modest movie is reported to have cost about $30 million, and what did all that money buy? Scores of car crashes. Too many extras. Overstaged dance numbers. And a hollowness that certainly didn't come cheap.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/30/04
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
Ratings Image
4/5

Big, loud, often obnoxious, but surprisingly sweet-tempered.

comment Comment
08/18/04
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Ratings Image
4/5

No review available.

comment Comment
08/15/04
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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