September Review: The Blues Brothers (1980)

Sometimes a movie is so charming, you don't realize it's an SNL tie-in until your boyfriend points it out days later, and if that isn't a testament to the quality of The Blues Brothers (1980), I don't know what is.

Following the fictional titular Blues Brothers as they get the band back together to save their orphanage, the film of the same name is deceptively simple. The streamlined structure lets you get right to the good stuff, sharp comedic instincts and a genuine love for the blues. There is no extraneous complication to the plot, no real fear the boys won't succeed. Instead you get a pure celebration of human expression, and the complicated harmonies we use to sing our best songs. A common pitfall of later comedies is convolution of the bit. When you expand a sketch to fill a feature film runtime it's easy to add in too much of the spaghetti you throw at the wall. The Blues Brothers (1980) stays focused on it's goal, and anchors itself in the music it gets its name from.

It's impossible to discuss The Blues Brothers (1980) without talking about the cameos. From musical royalty like Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin, to my people's princess Carrie Fisher, there is no end to the surprising faces who populate the world of the Brothers Blue. These cameos and supporting roles are far from random, as the film has the wisdom to let their incredible musical roster jam out, giving enthralling performances that cover the musical chops of leading men Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Which is not to say the Brother's don't bring it in their own right, but when you're sharing the stage with Aretha Franklin it's hard to make two SNL alumni's voices take the spotlight. That said, Aykroyd and Belushi are a delightful pair of stone-faced leading men, playing the roles just straight enough to make the world around them seem natural no matter how zany it gets.

The Blues Brothers (1980) isn't just carried musically by its cast, but shows a real love for the genre it takes its name from. Often the jokes will stop, so a genuinely wonderful rendition of a standard can begin, and play in its entirety. The film doesn't waste time trying to tell you why the brothers and you the viewer should love the Blues, it simply shows you, and embraces one of my favorite forms of movie magic. There is something fundamentally human about song and dance on screen. A feat of human artistic expression that needs no enhancement, no smoke and mirrors. Something that can be presented as it is, and be perfectly enthralling. That is the most powerful magic of all.

It isn't just music that The Blues Brothers (1980) understands, but comedy as well. As the first movie spawned from a Saturday Night Live sketch, it would be easy to phone it in and lean on repeated jokes and old bits. Instead the film picks up the comedic sensibilities of its origin and pushes them to feature film budget and effects. The notable example is the cop car, dropped from a massive crane for just, so incredibly long. Not something you can pull off for a quick sketch, but perfectly suited for a major motion picture. The jokes land, and while it's not the zaniest comedy out there, it has a certain dignity that makes some of the wackier bits still feel diegetic.

Overall, The Blues Brothers (1980) is a great wrapper for some great songs. It won't change your life, but it will damn entertain you. Luckily for us, this show is playing for far more than one night.

8 out of 10 jazzy fedoras