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Review

The Blues Brothers

3 out of 5 stars
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Time Out says

Soul-stirring celebration or crass cultural exploitation? Truth is, ‘The Blues Brothers’ is a bit of both, lending exposure to rhythm and blues legends who might otherwise have faded into silence while at the same time treating black culture as a colourful pantomime backdrop for the antics of two white comedians. That Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi adore this music is not in question – it’s lovingly chosen and brilliantly performed – but the film sometimes feels like a work of cultural tourism, particularly in scenes set in a gospel church and a Chicago street market. These lively musical sequences also sit awkwardly with director John Landis’s bizarre predilection for wholesale destruction: sure, smashing up cop cars can be fun, but Landis takes things to a tiresome extreme. Still, the film retains a huge nostalgic kick, thanks in large part to Aykroyd and Belushi’s easy rapport, a smattering of daft, shaggy humour and some truly iconic musical sequences.

Release Details

  • Rated:15
  • Release date:Friday 24 July 2009
  • Duration:133 mins

Cast and crew

  • Director:John Landis
  • Screenwriter:Dan Aykroyd, John Landis
  • Cast:
    • John Belushi
    • Dan Aykroyd
    • Kathleen Freeman
    • James Brown
    • Henry Gibson
    • John Landis
    • Frank Oz
    • Cab Calloway
    • Aretha Franklin
    • Carrie Fisher
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