Blues Brothers (R, 1980)

common sense media says

A cult classic for adults and older teens.


parents & educators say
  • 44% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that main characters Elwood and Jake Blues steal, destroy property, attempt to run people over, cheat people out of money, lie, drink, and smoke. In other words, kids -- especially teenage boys -- will find them irresistibly cool. There's lots of profanity and violence played for laughs.

Positive messages: Jake and Elwood lie, cheat, and steal to get what they want, but eventually pay the price.
Violence: Explosions, threatened violence, and death, shooting at Jake and Elwood, but all comic.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Considerable cursing, even at a nun.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Lots of smoking and drinking.

More on Blues Brothers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how Elwood and Jake's morals are -- or aren't --reflected in their behavior. For instance, they want to save the orphanage they grew up in, but they lie, cheat, and steal to raise the money. Is the damage they cause justified by their goal?

What's the story?

What's the story?
After three years in prison for robbery, Jake Blues (John Belushi) is released with one thing on his mind: Getting the band back together. His brother Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) has something else on his mind -- getting right with God. The brothers discover that the orphanage where they grew up will be sold if they can't raise $5,000 to pay the tax assessor, and set out to raise the money by getting the band back together and holding a benefit concert. Along the way, they meet up with some of the great R&B musicians of all time: James Brown preaching in a Baptist church; Aretha Franklin belting out "Think!" in her soul food restaurant; Cab Calloway singing to a packed house; Ray Charles singing about doing the twist in a pawn shop. Along with great music, their quest is full of car chases, property destruction, and repeated explosions. Jake and Elwood are scamps, but they pay for the damage they do, and do good in the end.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
THE BLUES BROTHERS holds a special place in cult movie lovers' hearts for a reason. It's surreal, it's got style, and it has great music. Indeed, it's a cross between a Saturday Night Live skit and a really great musical. Even if you hate the flimsy plot, you're likely to be humming the songs days later.

Though teens may find parts of it slow and may need to be educated about old school R&B, the film is likely to become a favorite. Expect to hear them quoting lines ("Mom, we're on a mission from God," when you question where they're going) and to see them wearing their sunglasses all the time. In the end, you get the sense that this movie is the teenage boy's dream inside Dan Aykroyd and John Landis, the co-writers.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Universal Pictures
Director: John Landis
Cast: Aretha Franklin, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, John Belushi, Ray Charles
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 133 minutes
Theatrical release: July 16, 1980
DVD release: August 30, 2005
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: comic violence and language

This review was written by Heather Boerner
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 9 parent & educator reviews:
  • 44% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

ParamoreFan09
teen, 15 years old
 
Language is all, otherwise, enjoy! :)
My dad showed the to my ten year old sister and I and we loved it! Not any blood, and super funny! Great music legends like Cab Calloway and Ray Charles, so that makes it sort of educational. My dad would pause it and tell us about the musicians. Super fun!!! The only thing is language because ALL swear words (yes, including f***) are in this film. That's the only real reason this is rated R. There is an episode of Drake and Josh that has things based on this movie! They sing "Soul Man" and they play a brief clip. This movie is a-okay! Just make sure your kid KNOWS swear words are bad and is not young enough to not understand they're bad and start saying them. 10 should be fine (if you've got a good kid) ;)

J-dog21
teen, 16 years old
 
3rd favorite movie!
3r favorite movie, just barely passed R rating by saying F**K too much

Shadowclaw46
teen, 15 years old
 
My all time favorite movie
When I first read Common Sense's review, I was shocked to find out that this movie was a CULT classic. It should be a classic peiord. I love this movie. This is my all time favorite. Now im not saying that it's the greatest movie ever made, because that title goes to "Forest Gump", but thats another story. Now This movie dose contain some strong language, but if you compare it to a movie like "Scarface" or "Stand By Me" or "Die hard" then it's not that bad. There is a very subtle sense of humor, and when it's not subtle, then it's distructive. Why is this my favorite movie? Well one reason is because of the Charecters of Jake and Elwood Blues, two of the greatest movie charecters of all time. But it's mainly because of all the things that this movie has to offer. Likeable charecters, great car chases that must have taken months and Thousands of dollars to pull off, spectactular music, and memborable moments and lines. There is honestly nothing that I can say bad about this movie. If you haven't seen this masterpeice then why are you still reading this review? Go get the movie and watch it now, because it truly is one of the greatest movies ever made.

shooter guru
teen, 16 years old
 
"where on a mission from god" best line ever:)
Best movie ever! This funny sh*t! This movie has some stuff in it that's a little iffy but it's all done in a comedic way. Dan akaroid and Jon belushi are the kings of comedy! Anybody 14 and up would love this movie and should have no problems at all.

Marwan_
adult
 
---SPOILER ALERT---
It's funny and has a good message as both brothers at the end save the day by doing a good dead for god.

asecoolish
teen, 14 years old
 
great for most ages
great movie for about any age if you're not concerned about some language and and reckless driving shouldn't even be r rated i love this movie its funny and clever.

 
Brilliant, funny musical.
I watched this movie as a kid, and it quickly became a firm favourite, although watching it now, I'm surprised my mum let me watch it, with the language content. The language is crude, but witty. The action sequences are superb and hilarious. The real star of this movie, is the music, however - the movie features many r&b\soul legends (Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles ect) and the tunes are wonderfully worked into the script. All in all, a classic musical.

valKIS
adult
 
Blues Brothers review by Val
The Blues Brothers Genre: Comedy-Musical Setting: 1980 in Chicago, Illinois Stars: The main stars are John Belushi as Jake and Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues. Also famous actors in this movie were: Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Steven Spielberg, Ray Charles and many others. Filmmaking: The Movie was produced in the summer 1979 in Chicago and surroundings. This movie is also famous for the lot car crashes, over 60 police cars were bought for each 400$, and most of them were destroyed during filming the movie. Plot: All begins after Elwood’s brother Jake was released of the jail, his first thought was: why is my brother meeting me with a police car? That was not enough, he also told him that he changed there old car for a microphone and bought this police car in an auction. Forceful, they went after Jake’s release to the child’s’ house were they grow up. Surprised they expert that the house is out of money and the church has no interest to save the building. After a religious vision, they decide to put the band back together, to can earn money with concerts. On there way to put the band together they make a lot of enemies, and even more after they finished it. Angry Nazis, a country band, a mysterious woman, the whole police of Chicago and even the army want there death. I recommend this movie to everybody who likes funny musicals or just want to see action in form of destruction. Jake and Elwood, the men in black, are also two very smart guys which like to make jokes but not in the way that it makes them stupid. I’m sad that you can’t see movies like that today. Of course the movie is old but its also timeless. That movie full of stars became a star by itself. -by Val a.k.a. cl0wnzee

Cubsdude
kid, 13 years old
 
Great Movie!!!
Amazing Movie!!!

nickelmcpickle
teen, 14 years old
 
teens will love this
Funny movie, I like the part when they drive through a mall

vette543
teen, 17 years old
 
Ok for everyone over 15
I personally think that it is fine, the cussing in front of the nun is comic....

TakedaIesyu
teen, 16 years old
 
Wow...
I saw a version where they censored the language, but if it's bad enough to make it R, well... The majority of it is comic. Barely 20 minutes in, I was having a hard time breathing because I was laughing so hard. The producers made fun of just how bad 2 wackoly silly goofballs can be. When they barricade themselves in a skyscraper, the Fire Depot. SWAT MP and more all come just to arrest two silly gooses. However, it used to hold the world record for most crashed cop cars in a movie (over 100)

 
Funniest Movie Ever!
This a very clever, funny musical/comedy. The only concern would be the language which is very strong but most kids can handle this movie iI think. If they are under 15 id say watch it with them the first time and if it gets too explicit in your opinion you can just shut the DVD player off.

Ironman1963
teen, 15 years old
 
Without language would be PG-13
This is one of my favorite movies it's extremly funny. It's not very violent, there are a few scenes were someone tries to kill Jake an Elwood but those scenes are really not bad at all. The only problem with this movie is the frequent language, if the movie did not have so much profanity it would easily be either PG-13 or PG, so it really depends on what your view of profanity is, but most likely if your kid is in middle school they probaly hear words as bad or worse than those in the movie.

moparman9
teen, 14 years old
 
grew up
i grew up wacthing that movie

paul is dead
teen, 17 years old
 
Good
To much language, but a good movie

Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
 
Absolutely hilarious; language is just about the only thing that makes this successful SNL spinoff rated R.
My rating: PG-13 for language, some comic violence, and for frequent drinking and smoking.

mikeisawesome123
parent of 11 year old
 
AWESOME MOVIE
Let me say this is the best movie I've ever f*cking seen!!!!!!!! Probably not for ages under 13. Strong language. Mild Violence. Adult Content. Sexual Content (involving kissing, and talk about condoms).

jsl
parent of 13 year old
 
A good message beneath the surface
Yes, it's funny, yes, there's strong language, but underlying message is profound - the people we least expect to make a contribution to society often do exactly that. Jake and Elwood had all the cards stacked against them - orphans, wrong side of the tracks, time in prison (on a Robin Hood-type mission, as is revealed later in the film), and the Penguin telling them not to come back until they've "redeemed themselves." Yet Jake and Elwood are determined to help her raise the tax money, regardless of what the consequences are to themselves. It cost them their freedom, but they were willing to do it for her and the orphanage - talk about selfless! Swearing, drinking, bad driving (and not wearing seatbelts) aside, they serve as good role models for my kids. I could take some cues from them myself.

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