The Blues Brothers

 

                Still on the quest of finding movies that I haven't touched nor, had much of my lifetime to take the time and seen from start to finish. And it just so happens, The Blues Brothers was on Amazon Prime, and I just thought well I have all the time in the world, so, why not watch the movie from beginning to end. Starring John Belushi in his iconic yet final comedic film before his passing, along with fellow Saturday Night Live, alums, Dan Aykroyd as well as list of Blues and R & B legends James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Cab Calloway. Now, I'll admit that this was my first time watching this classic comedy craziness, but this was one of those films where I just don't know what to say mainly because of what it's trying to be in terms of musical or comedic spoof.

                After his release from prison, Jake (John Belushi) reunites with his brother, Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) -- collectively known as the "Blues Brothers." Jake's first task is to save the orphanage the brothers grew up in from closing, by raising $5,000 to pay back taxes. The two are convinced they can earn the money by getting their old band back together. However, after playing several gigs and making few enemies, including the police, the brothers face daunting odds to deliver the money on time. 

                I will admit in a full disclosure way of saying this, I technically didn't watch the film all the way through for many reasons, the way the film started I wasn't quite sure if I was listening to anything mainly cause, there was no music and for a movie to be called Blues Brothers you could at least add some harmonica music to go along with the intro part of the movie right? Then when I finally sat down and watched the movie through, the musical elements put me in a puzzled state as well as some of the comedic elements to the film just, again it was one of these movies where they take some of the over-the-top comedy to the next level just gave me that mixed emotion of "huh". Now granted both John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd were at the peak of their comedic genius after spending so many years on Saturday Night Live and give them credit at being comedic geniuses, but with this movie I just was trying to put together on what this movie was supposed to be, considering that this movie does have musical elements but then we get to the out of control comedic elements that goes way over the top and then it just loses me out of it, especially when Carrie Fisher is trying to kill the Blues Brothers and of course through the course of the movie she fails constantly and the joke is she's a horrible shot, or even when the apartment complex blows up and they walk away from it, it goes from like any of the Naked Gun films or even the Airplane films that you begin to realize that you've seen this movie so many times that you begin to realize it while watching the movie. Granted some of the action sequences are cool especially some of the ways they were able to film the car chases but then again when they comedy goes over the top you slowly begin to lose interest but it's like a train crash, you don't want to look but you can't stop watching the mess go up in flames. I'm sure there are people out there that rank this as one of the greatest comedies ever made, but for me this is one of those films where I have mixed emotions of wanting to like this film and not quite sure in what to make of it and sure there are some funny moments especially with some of the nun scenes, but then it gets way to out of control. The best part of the movie is that it ends in a way like the TV series Fargo where you can stop watching it, after the season is done, then you can call it good as well as walk away before it gets worst especially when there's a sequel and after watching this movie I really don't feel the need to watch the second film. So, if your fan of the “Blues Brothers”, original film I'd say go nuts and watch the film on Amazon Prime, but if you are like me and don't know what to make of it, just remember you’re not the only one out there that feels confused about the movie like I am.