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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.

Runtime: 4 hrs 41 mins

Genre: Comedies

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]

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Release:

Jun 21, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region [unknown]
  • Full Frame - 1.33

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround - English
  • Subtitles: English, SDH, French, Spanish

Additional Release Material:

  • Music Highlights
  • Featurette: Stories Behind the Making of The Blues Brothers
 
 
 
 

Reviews for The Blues Brothers

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1 - 20 (sorted by comments)
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A monument to waste, noise and misplaced cool, but it does have its engagingly nutty moments.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment 1 Comment
04/01/08
TV Guide's Movie Guide

An inspired combination of wild comedy, a demented car chase, a double act that dovetails beautifully and terrific music, The Blues Brothers comfortably survives the test of time.

Full Review Source: Sunday Mail [UK] | comment Comment
07/24/09
Sunday Mail [UK]

Full of belly-laughs as well as toe-tappingly great tunes, the sharp suits and cool shades of the Blues brothers will have you rocking with joy.

Full Review Source: Sky Movies | comment Comment
07/24/09
Sky Movies

An undisciplined, overlong tale that substitutes spectacle and star cameos (Twiggy, Steven Spielberg, etc) for a coherent narrative.

Full Review Source: Daily Express | comment Comment
07/28/09
Allan Hunter
Allan Hunter
Daily Express

No review available.

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

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)

I am never not amused by the Blues Brothers.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Brad Laidman
Brad Laidman
Film Threat

No review available.

comment Comment
10/18/02
Brian J. Arthurs
Brian J. Arthurs
Beach Reporter (Southern California)

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

No review available.

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

No review available.

comment Comment
10/09/05
Chuck O'Leary
Chuck O'Leary
Fantastica Daily

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

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

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

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 Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
04/01/08
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I have never been quite sure why this $30 million comedy made by John Landis in 1980 became such a cult.

Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
07/24/09
Derek Malcolm
Derek Malcolm
This is London

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

Full Review Source: DVDLaser | comment Comment
04/01/08
Douglas Pratt
Douglas Pratt
DVDLaser

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 Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
03/29/08
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

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

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

Landis at the peak of his powers. Brilliant, deadpan comedy.

comment Comment
01/17/03
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
San Francisco Examiner
 
 
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