The Blues Brothers 1980

Janet Maslin, New York Times: This essentially modest movie is reported to have cost about $30 million, and what did all that money buy? Scores of car crashes. Too many extras. Overstaged dance numbers. And a hollowness that certainly didn't come cheap. Read more

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader: The humor is predicated on underplaying in overscaled situations, which is sporadically funny in a Keaton-esque way but soon sputters out through sheer, uninspired repetition. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: There's even room, in the midst of the carnage and mayhem, for a surprising amount of grace, humor, and whimsy. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: A demolition symphony that works with the cold efficiency of a Moog synthesizer gone sadistic. Read more

Tom Huddlestone, Time Out: The film retains a huge nostalgic kick, thanks in large part to Aykroyd and Belushi's easy rapport, a smattering of daft, shaggy humour and some truly iconic musical sequences. Read more

Variety Staff, Variety: Given all the chaos, director and, with Aykroyd, cowriter, John Landis manages to keep things reasonably controlled and in a straight line. Read more

Gary Arnold, Washington Post: There is no more material sustaining The Blues Brothers"than one would find in a silent comedy short running 10 or 20 minutes. Read more