I've been a fan of this movie since high school. I never saw the Blues Brothers on SNL, Belushi was dead by the time I was an adolescent, I knew Aykroyd from Ghostbusters first. I had a used VHS tape of the movie, I dressed like Elwood for Halloween in college once. At some point in the last 20 years I had seen it too much and needed a break.
Last night I was scrolling Peacock and it came up. Music, comedy, cartoony action scenes, car chases? My kids will love it! So I put it on.
The long layoff helped me re-appreciate the movie tremendously. Two white guys who are blues / soul / R&B superfans, singing and dancing to their favorite songs is terribly self-indulgent. Director John Landis and Aykroyd found the best approach to the movie: they never take themselves seriously, they come off as just clever enough to get themselves in trouble with everyone, and, most importantly, the movie is a showcase for their musical idols. Their own performances are beyond secondary.
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| 1992 or 1993: that's me as Elwood, and Jim Pellechia as Tony Manero |