BLUES BROTHERS 2000 1998
A film review by Timothy Voon
Copyright 1998 Timothy Voon
1 :-( for the missing fun
Cast: Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman, Joe Morton, J. Evan Bonifant, Nia Peeples, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, B.B. King Director: John Landis Screenplay: Dan Aykroyd and John Landis Music: Paul Shaffer U.S.
No sequel, can hope to bare, an inherent a cult classic as THE BLUES BROTHERS, as brilliant a heir. There was something unique about the time it was made, in the era of the early 80's, when the world was crying out for something loud, original and immensely destructive to hit the screens. The reply to this call of the wild was of course, THE BLUES BROTHERS.
It is almost 20 years since the original hit the screens, but the world is not howling for the likes of BLUES BROTHERS 2000. Why? Maybe it's just the way of the times. This isn't an awful movie by any means, it just lacks that cheeky sparkle of John Belushi. Dan Ackroyd is back, a lean-n-mean, slim-n-trim, Elwood Blues. He's good and this is probably his best role for some time, but he cannot carry this movie alone. John Goodman, is Mighty Mack who sings the blues true, but even he cannot fill the shoes of the missing Belushi. The other newcomer is a twelve-year-old orphan, Buster Blues (J. Bonifant), who plays the harmonica like mother's milk, but really he should be sucking on a breast instead of hanging with the dudes.
Look, if you're here to listen to the music, then you've come to the right cinema. Let's face it, there's no one who sings, plays, thinks blues better than the likes of Aretha, James, Eric, Stevie, Charlie, Billy, Lou, Joshua, Travis, Jimmie, Wylie, Grover, Paul, Steve, Donald, Murphy, Lou, Tom, Allan, Matt and the BLUES BROTHERS, all jamming together for a grand finale. Well, that's a dream come true for lovers of soul. However, for the rest of the world, this is not the ecstatic reunion of home coming queens. So perhaps in another twenty years, there may be a more successful resurrection of BLUES BROTHERS 2020 – something more in keeping with Beverly Hills 90210?
Timothy Voon
e-mail: stirling@netlink.com.au
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