I must admit I haven't seen many films directed by John Landis, and while The Blues Brothers is one of the few, it could very well be what introduces me to his other works.
The Blues Brothers reminds me of the more laid-back comedies of the past, where the humour was smartly placed and used, and connecting to the characters was much more simple. It's a film with that holds a certain charm and almost seems like one that just can't not be enjoyed.
As is the case with most older comedies, the narrative itself is rather simple, without much depth to it: Jake (John Belushi) is released from prison and is picked up by his brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd), the two go on an quest to save the orphanage they grew up in from closing due to the $5,000 needed to pay taxes. The two end up in nonsensical events alongside nonsensical characters as they attempt to make the money through the only ways the know how.
The Blues Brothers are two similarly-dressed characters that hold a sophisticated, blues-like style. It's a signature look which adds to their cool and unexpected idiotic personalities. They fit perfectly together as a talented blues duo, and often enough that's exactly what they're doing on screen.
Music is everything in this film, and if you're knowledgeable in music, you'll find a plethora of cameos from musicians in varying talents and backgrounds popping up during the songs and dances, after all, this is a musical, and it pulls it off so very well -- and I'm not particularly fond of the musical genre, but it almost feels wrong to say you shouldn't watch this if you can't stand them.
Comedies are driven by the chemistry between the actors, and the performances in The Blues Brothers make the viewing experience that much more special. And it's saddening to know that John Belushi's death came soon after the film was released, because the charm he has on screen alongside Dan Aykroyd is one that could have gone far.
At its core, The Blues Brothers is a classic 80's flick. It has everything you'd expect from the era, and more. It shows a different time where films that weren't necessarily amazing were still good due to their ability to create characters over narrative and visuals, something that's somewhat lacking in today's world of cinema.
