Well night before last John Landis had his first test screening of BLUES BROTHERS 2000 (that I've heard of). Well if these two reports mean anything it looks like they're gonna be a whole lotta fun. As is usual with these 'test screenings' this is an early print of the film, and could be changed between this showing and the final release. Usually when an early screening has mostly positive reactions, it's on the road to being a cool movie, but if it's mostly negative... well it's got work to be done. The most interesting and telling fact on the two reviews I quote is that neither person was a "FAN" of the original. This is blasphemy to me, cause I love the original. The first review is from St James, who checked out of his infirmary to see what he could see. After beating six crap-shooting pall bearers he was able to see BB2K. Check it out... There are some spoilers so watch it. If you don't want to know about SPECIAL GUESTS and the songs and the "plot" as it is, don't read further. However, if you do.... well do!
Just got back from the test screening of the Blues Brothers 2000 at Universal. It's scheduled to hit theatres on February 6. Both the director John Landis and Dan Akyroyd (who flew in direct from Comedian Chris Farley's funeral) snuck into the theatre just as the lights went out. They both smiled through the whole picture.
The movie started with a fitting tribute card to John Beluishi, Cab Callaway, and John Candy. One wonders if they are now going to add Farley's name to this list? The audience definitely cheered over this card, and then the movie kicks into gear. We see Elwood at a prison, after being released (the warden played by Frank Oz), waiting for Jake to pick him up. Unfortunately, Oz informs him that Jake has died, and as such, that's the catalyst that spawns Elwood's interest in starting a new band.
He heads off to Chicago with the goal of putting back together a new Blues Brothers group. Along the way, he runs into an orphan boy, spectacularly played by Evan Bonafant from Three Ninjas Kick Back, and the police commander, T2's Joe Morton, who somehow is linked up as Elwood's brother. He also runs into a bartender at Wally's strip- joint, who just happens to be John Goodman. There you have the four members of the new Blues Brothers.
The "plot" (notice the quotation marks) involves the band getting all their members back together and travelling to a few gigs, which culminates in a Battle of the Bands competition. Elwood and his crew run into a number of celebrity guests as characters in the movie, such as B.B. King as a used car salesman, and Aretha Franklin as a wife who wants some R.E.S.P.E.C.T. from her husband. Yes, she launches into that song to express herself, but at the same time, the setting is rather strange - She now owns a Mercedes-Benz dealership. Talk about a pure product placement that is really out of place.
Still, the band starts wreaking havoc wherever they go, and the police are hot on their tail. Initially, Morton is trying to hunt down his brother, but he learns his calling at a Preacher's tent: he becomes posessed with the blues and joins the band. The Preacher is played by James Brown, but he is wasted in the movie. You'd think Brown would perform "I Feel Good," but no go. After that, it's up to The Party Machine herself, Nia Peeples, to take over the police chase. The band first plays a concert as the Blue-Grass Brothers at a Kentucky Fair, with the song "Ghost Riders in the Sky."
The big band competition at the end takes place at Erika Bhadu's voodoo-palace, where she puts in a reasonable performance as a witch. The real star here is Paul Shaeffer who plays her assistant and steals the show. Not that he has any funny material, but he does have good delivery. Bhadu turns the Blues Brothers into zombies so they can play a Carribean number, and then the big competition starts. The all-star band up against them includes B.B. King, Steve Winwood, and Eric Clapton among others. They battle it off, and I'll leave the winner out of this review.
Then there's the ending, or what I'd call the we-don't-have-any-more-musical-numbers-so- we-need-to-somehow-put-an-end-on-this-thing-even-though-there-ain't-any-plot-to-wrap- up. Let me just say that the current ending is very unsatisfying. Sure, it sets the movie up for another sequel, but it really is a botched up job at its prime. You always want to end a movie on a good laugh, but that's not the case here.
The bottom line here is that Akroyd does give a great performance and delivers some twisted speeches to his band. John Goodman is wasted in the movie with little or no dialogue. It seems to me that after Jim Beluishi couldn't get out of his contract for the new defunct Total Security to film the movie, Akroyd and Landis tried to patch-up the script. It didn't work very well. Sure, the new kid is a great addition, but there isn't much in the way of a great story here.
Of course the real hit of this movie is the music. I'm sure the soundtrack album is going to be incredible. This movie is nothing more than a group of music videos laced together with a very thin plot. There's no question that the musical numbers are awesome, and Paul Shaeffer deserves a lot of credit for this. The first movie was a comedy with some really funny moments. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of humor to be had here. (Although Landis does have his trademark Gorilla shot in this movie). There is a spectacular car chase where hundreds of police cars are totaled. Apparently, a stuntman died filming this sequence, and you can see why.
Blues Brothers 2000 is a great family movie with a lot of excellent music, but don't go expecting to be rolling in the aisles, because it's not that kind of movie. The producers get credit for putting together one of the best musicals in a long time, but they could have given the film a much better plot and ending. Mind you, this movie is miles better than a lot of other crap comedy that has been out there in the last few years, namely The Stupids (from Landis), and stuff like Coneheads (with Akroyd). This movie was an excuse to create some great music, and the beats are excellent. Just don't go expecting much of a plot or comedy and you'll probably enjoy it as a two-hour music concert.
Then the Old Man of the Moutain came down putting long white beards on everybody till he got here. He was soooo slick he got into the screening even if he was wearing an Elmo Lincoln style Tarzan animal skin toga! But here's his report:
Just wanted to let you know about the Blues Brothers 2000 screening in LA last night. I wasn't a huge BB fan so I was sorta hoping we'd see something else but... oh well. I can at least say I was entertained- the film was better than I expected.
It was a work in progress so what I believe was a flashback scene was cut out and we are left with the subtitle "18 years later". Elwood is just getting out of jail and isn't aware of his brother's death. Now here is where I became depressed: Elwood doesn't really seem to care! He's just like "Oh well, that sucks" and then, "Hey, let's put the band back together!" To tell you the truth, the movie sort of lags without Belushi but then if you're going to see it, you should really go for the plot (something about the Russian mafia and, of course, being chased by the police). Anyway, it's all about the music and it is here that the film is really, really good. Great soundtrack.
Casting is as good as can be with Goodman filling in as the 2nd Blues. Another performance that surprised me was the kid, Evan Bonafont, I think is his name. I was skeptical at first but he really added to the movie.
Scenes that stood out in my mind: All the musical numbers (Especially Aretha Franklin and a rendition of Ghost Riders in the Sky), a "dream band" performance that included B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Issac Hayes, Steve Winwood among others, and a chase scene ending in a pile up that more than outdoes the first movie (I stopped counting after 30 the number of cars that flew through the air. VERY COOL.)
Anyway, I think it's worth it come February.
