BLUES BROTHERS 2000
US, 1998, 123 minutes, Colour
Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, Joe Morton, J. Evan Bonifant, B.B.King, Kathleen Freeman, Frank Oz, Nia Peoples, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, the Ridgeway Sisters, Wilson Pickett, Steve Lawrence, Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, Dr John, Steve Winwood.
Directed by John Landis.
In 1980, the Blues Brothers was an enormous box of success, especially with the screen presence of John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd and their shenanigans, but, especially, the musical score and the range of jazz and other genres of music performed. A sequel would have been more quickly forthcoming except that John Belushi died of a drug overdose.
18 years later, director John Landis from the original and Dan Aykroyd came up with the story and it is quite an exuberant sequel which was also popular, but didn’t have the classic status of the original
In fact, the narrative is very slight. Elwood Blues, Aykroyd, has been seen a prison sentence for larceny and gets out, Frank Oz as the prison warden who has the task of letting Elwood know that his brother Jake has died. Elwood is picked up from prison by an exotic cancer and taken to a club – plenty of pole dancing and singing for those that way inclined – and Elwood having the ambition to re-assemble the band. The proprietor of the club is unwilling but has to pay protection money to Eastern European thugs with their standover tactics. There is a car chase, quite elaborate, Elwood fights and humiliates the thugs who are then bent on getting revenge.
There are some amusing sequences with Elwood trying to meet the various band members from the past, having discussions, getting involved – and the special confrontation with Aretha Franklin who does not want her husband to rejoin the band.
Sister Marie Stigmata, Kathleen Freeman, now the mother Superior, is not above getting the switch out and slapping Elwood on the shoulders, disciplining him, but also getting him to look after a wayward orphan, Buster, a sprightly performance by J. Evan Bonifant, singer and dancer, keeping pace with Elwood and Mac, played exuberantly, with a touch of the slow by John Goodman.
There are two thrusts in the plot, the group learning that there is to be a music performance competition New Orleans and going on the road to get the prize; and discovering that the thugs are after them. This leads to some action sequences with the band always getting the better of the thugs, even the boss joining his thugs to get his revenge.
The concert is presided over by a rather exotic Voodoo queen who is charmed by the band, listens to the audition, and allows them to join the competition. The competition is full of jazz and musical characters and they finish all jamming together.
Dan Aykroyd is at home in his role, John Goodman entering into the spirit of things, and the boy entering into the songs and dances, the black suit and dark glasses routines. Quite a number of music celebrities have dramatic or singing roles,B.B. King selling used cars, James Brown as a singer – who has a featured song after the final credits.
In fact, the film is really a framework for a record album. And every so often ensemble songs offer quite a variety of music, musicians, singers – while the film is not a classic, its soundtrack is.
