100 Movies Every Catholic Should See #84: The Blues Brothers (1980)

Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd

“We’re on a mission from God”

The Blues Brothers is perhaps the most peculiar to be included on this list. It is one of the few comedies to be on the list, and while it can be seen as nothing more than a silly odyssey through the American Blues landscape (which it indeed is), there is something deeper, more fundamental, and Catholic at the heart of this bombastic tale. 

First and foremost, The Blues Brothers is a musical comedy, and a ridiculous one at that. It is a film that gets funnier upon each rewatch and spared no expense for its production. The car chase at the end is still to this day considered one of the largest cinematic chases in history, and one of the most expensive scenes ever shot for a comedy. Over 500 extras were used, and the film still holds the record for the most police cars destroyed in a film, clocking in at a whopping 104 destroyed. The Blues Brothers builds on punchlines and characters, consistently giving the audience a never ending stream of jokes, cameos, and incredible music. In this writer’s opinion, this film has one of the greatest musical soundtracks ever compiled. Not only are the songs played in between the big numbers great, but the performances themselves are conducted with such grandiose joy that one can’t help but get sucked in. Choreography, stunts, and musical performances are all done with expert precision.

The Blues Brothers offers an epic tale of redemption where two brothers (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd), after learning that their childhood orphanage, run by Catholic nuns, is at risk of being closed down, decide to do everything in their sometimes morally questionable bag of tricks to get the money to save the orphanage. Jake and Elwood Blues dedicate themselves to honestly helping out those who cared for them (while ignoring any and every traffic law in existence) to help out their childhood home. In the opening interaction with their former nun caretaker- “The Penguin” - our protagonists with “filthy mouths and bad attitudes” are commanded to go out into the world and redeem themselves, and from there on out they see themselves as being on a “mission from God”. The rest of the film follows the brothers as they recruit their old band members to join their cause, and through increasingly extravagant methods they are able to overcome state highway patrol, angry rival musicians, a psychotic ex-girlfriend (played wonderfully by the late Carrie Fisher), the Chicago Police Department, Illinois Nazis, and the National Guard.

The Blues Brothers serves as a delightful, music-filled comedy through the American blues and soul music scene, and offers Catholics a reassuring message that though we may be deeply flawed, even those who seem furthest from Him are capable of great things. It is a master class in comedy, music, cameos, and above all fun that should be enjoyed by all. It is an exceptional Fourth of July film that is endlessly rewatchable and has held up over the test of time.