Singing the Blues

One of my favorite movies of all time is "The Blues Brothers." John Belushi and Dan Akroyd used the film to show that their talents need not be limited to the supporting roles they played in Saturday Night Live. Both of them were bonafide actors and there could not have been a better showcase to demonstrate their abilities than "The Blues Brothers." While on their own, they are among the funniest people to have ever walked the planet, together they make a comedy duo that is unmatched.
The movie is so funny because the two of them play off each other so well. At times, both are straight men and at other times, both are the jokesters. Yet the movie, which they co-wrote, never crosses the line and makes the plot seem trivial. Far from trivial, Belushi and Akroyd are on a "Mission from God." They take on themselves the task of saving the orphanage they grew up in. While Belushi's first thought was simply "We'll knock off a few liquor stores, we'll have the money for you in no time," the Nun who runs the orphanage would rather go broke than take "dirty" money.
No, the Blues Brothers realize that saving the orphanage will require them to put their old band back together and give one big concert that will make enough money to save all the orphans. So they set upon their task collecting the odd assortment of characters that once made of their rhythm and blues band. Some are willing, others less so. Yet the brothers have ways of convincing their old friends to help out.
Along the way, they also make a lot of enemies. Every time they seem to be caught, using their wits and a little help from above, they escape. The final scene must have set a record for a movie car chase. They are pursued by hundreds of vehicles, from police cars to navy ships. Yet just in the nick of time, they make it to the Cook County Assessors office to pay the tax bill for the orphanage. The orphans are saved, the band is back together, the enemies of the Blues Brothers are vanquished, and you have just had a really good time watching this movie.