My Thoughts on the Film, The Blues Brothers (1980), 5/2/2026…

The Blues Brothers (1980) is the kind of movie that can get anybody out of a foul mood. It’s so ridiculous and fun, and it was obvious that everyone involved had a blast making it. Where else can you have a car chase through a shopping mall, numerous—and I mean numerous—police car pileups, and the petite Carrie Fisher wielding a rocket launcher? The damned thing was bigger than she was!

Dan Akroyd (Ghostbusters), co-writer and co-star, called the film “a road movie interrupted by musical numbers.” He is spot on. There is a running delirium throughout the film, beating the boundaries of disbelief, making fun of itself, asking the viewer to enjoy the ride. Many of the characters are caricatures, but the actors playing them don’t particularly care. From a psychotic ex-fiancée to an uptight neo-Nazi, from a laying-the-law-down girlfriend to a clueless country western band, from a disgusted prison clerk to a jazz singing music shop owner, TBB has got it all. Folks even dance in the streets to a rousing Ray Charles song.

Of course, the late great John Belushi (Animal House) lights up the screen with his manic energy. Do his antics fuel his performance? Or does his performance fuel his antics? Your guess is as good as mine. He plays well beside Dan Akroyd, both being quite simpatico, both being masters at improvisation, both being alumni of Saturday Night Live.

I also marvel at how well this film has aged. And how much property was destroyed when filming it. I’m quite sure that this film cannot be remade today without serious adjustments to its attitudes, its humor, and its property costs, but why even bother? The film works well as is. And it will continue to work and entertain many for years to come. It is that timeless.

The Blues Brothers is a definite keeper, one to squeeze in between Lawrence of Arabia and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Or between two other favorite films of yours. I highly, highly recommend this film.