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Movies / On DVD / The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers

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The Blues Brothers (1980)

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Reviews Counted:45

Fresh:38

Rotten:7

Average Rating:6.9/10

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.

Rated: 15

Runtime: 4 hrs 41 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:24-07-2009

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... 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]

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

Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Kathleen Freeman, Carrie Fisher, Henry Gibson

Director: John Landis

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

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Blues Brothers

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21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
08/12/05
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
DVDTalk.com

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

comment Comment
03/23/05
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

No review available.

comment Comment
11/12/04
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

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

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
09/28/04
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

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 Source: New York Times | comment Comment
08/30/04
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

comment Comment
08/18/04
Ken Hanke
Ken Hanke
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

No review available.

comment Comment
08/15/04
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat

It's many excesses just make this brilliant slapstick musical even more enjoyable.

comment Comment
08/12/04
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)

One of the funniest movies I have ever seen. A classic in all sense of the word.

comment Comment
07/30/04
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

No review available.

comment Comment
05/29/04
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

No review available.

comment Comment
05/29/04
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
New Times

The Blues Brothers is packed with lively music, fantastic chase sequences and nonstop slapstick comedy.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
01/29/04
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Bloated, overlong, too many car crashes, too little humor. A big disappointment.

comment Comment
01/07/04
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

No review available.

comment Comment
12/02/03
Nicolas Lacroix
Nicolas Lacroix
Showbizz.net

There's not one ineffective cameo in a movie with many because there’s no sense of stunt casting or camera hogging.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
11/16/03
Pete Croatto
Pete Croatto
Filmcritic.com

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

The story is thin, but there's a consistently wonderful over-the-top mentality.

comment Comment
07/02/03
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online

Goes on way too long, but still a fun movie that immortalizes John Belushi

comment Comment
03/20/03
Brian Mckay
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com

Just about the only Saturday Night Live skit that makes a successful transition into a feature-length comedy.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 >> >|
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