DVD Reviews

The Blues Brothers - Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Jul 27, 2011, 14:53 GMT

Comedy icons John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star in the outrageously funny musical comedy about Jake and Elwood Blues, two brothers searching for redemption with no money but a briefcase full of soul. Hit the road with musical performances by blues legends Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Cab Calloway in the action-packed spectacular from acclaimed director John Landis. ...more

I hate Illinois Nazis, but I do love the Blues Brothers.  Certainly a format named Blu would welcome the iconic bluesmen (the Blu Brothers?)?  True enough, but those expecting new special features will get the blues. 

Jake Blues (John Belushi) has just finished a three-year stint in Joliet prison.  He’s met at the gate by his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) who escorts the newly freed jailbird to visit Sister Mary “The Penguin” Stigmata (Kathleen Freeman) at the St. Helen of the Blessed Shroud Orphanage.  It seems the orphanage is overdue on their property taxes and is going to be closed down. 

The brothers commit to raising the $5000 needed, but the Penquin is having none of their dirty money.  After a tumultuous meeting, the boys meet up with their old mentor Curtis (Cab Calloway), the orphanage janitor. 

He thinks they should find a legal way to get the funds and suggest they attend the services of the Reverend Cleophus James (James Brown).  Jake is annoyed at first, but during the sermon he has an epiphany. 

They’ll reform the Blues Brothers band and play enough gigs to collect the five grand.  That won’t be easy as the band members have moved on to other jobs. 

“Murph” Dunne (Murphy Dunne), Donald “Duck” Dunn (Donald Dunn), Steve “The Colonel” Cropper (Steve Cropper), Willie “Too Big” Hall (Willie Hall), and Tom “Bones” Malone (Tom Malone) have formed Murph and the Magictones and have a steady gig at the local Holiday Inn. 

Matt “Guitar” Murphy (Matt Murphy) married a café owner (Aretha Franklin), and “Blue Lou” (Lou Marini) and Matt work in the restaurant.  Alan “Mr. Fabulous” Rubin (Alan Rubin) is the head matrie’d at a swanky restaurant.  So the boys will have to convince the lest-than-trusting band members to come back and then find the gigs that will raise the money. 

Along the way they’ll offend most of Illinois’ police force  and Det. Burton Mercer (John Candy), encounter a mysterious woman (Carrie Fisher) trying to kill Jake, earning the ire of the Illinois Nazis party (led by Henry Gibson), bar owner Bob (Jeff Morris), and the cowboy band the Good Ole’ Boys (led by Charles Napier). 

All leading to a riotous chase and the boys trying to get the money to the tax assessor (Steven Spielberg) before the deadline passes and the orphans put out in the street. 

Ladies and gentlemen… the Blues Brothers!  John Belushi and Dan Akyroyd’s musical creations grew out of Akyroyd’s love of the music and Belushi’s introduction and growing love of the same.  They developed the duo on Saturday Night Live, which brought fame to both - maybe a hair more to Belushi. 

John’s excesses caused his light to burn out quicker, but he left a hilarious cinematic legacy.  It would start with Animal House (Blu review coming soon) and perhaps reach its height with this film.  It’s a hilarious comedy but also a tribute to some fantastic music. What might surprise is that at the time some of the musical talent that appears in the film weren’t doing much but sitting around. 

Aretha, James, and Ray in career slumps?  I guess so, but their thrilling numbers in the film would reinvigorate those same careers.  There are some wonderful character moments – from the Bob’s Bunker and the Good Ole’ Boys, Candy’s cheery cop, and Gibson’s “I’ve always loved you” incompetent Nazis. 

Wonderful, electric comedy beats as well as musical ones (not that the film is ever labeled a musical but Landis wisely points out that his film has more songs than the average musial). 

The Blues Brothers is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.85:1) and you get the theatrical (133 minute) and extended version (148 minute).  The theatrical cut looks excellent, but the extended cut’s extra footage is not up to that standard.  Not terrible, but it does show some differences. 

Special features are in standard definition and come from other releases, nothing new here.  Not that it’s not worthwhile, there’s the 56 minute “Stories behind the making of the Blues Brothers” (first appearing on the 1990 DVD), the 15 minute “Transposing the Music” (from the 2005 25th Anniversary DVD) with newer interviews, the 10 minute “Remembering John” about the late comedian (again from 2005), and the 4 minute theatrical trailer. 

The Blu, er Blues Brothers looks great and recycles some great special features.  Where the disappointment may arise in that nothing new has been added, but maybe that’s for the better since when they tried a sequel the results weren’t exactly stellar.

Visit the DVD database for more information.