Hulkeasexo
it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.
Burkettonhe
This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.
ChampDavSlim
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Brooklynn
There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
planxan2
Sure it is a hated film. Why? Because the underlying message is a direct assault on the most sacred of American institutions - the "American dream".Here's a guy who seems to have it all, at least according to American mythology. A big house. A good job. An attractive wife. A daughter in college. What could possibly be wrong just beneath the surface of this Norman Rockwell portrait of American perfection? Along come the new neighbors to reveal what's wrong. The guy's wife doesn't love him, or even respect him. He's basically miserable working far too much. His daughter is a slutty punk. He's ready to have an affair as soon as the opportunity arises, and to cap it off, he's also a cowardly a-hole who is the butt of every joke by everyone around him. His staunch right wing lifestyle explodes in his face.In the end, he comes around and realizes all of this. Now here's where the film really kicks the brainwashed American in the face - he realizes that his entire life has been a lie, and actually decides to abandon it. For the first time in the entire film, he's joyful. He's actually giddy at how happy it makes him to destroy everything he had worked his entire life for and flee to parts unknown with a couple of lunatics, because anything would be better than another day in suburban America pretending that's a life worth living.For those who wrote saying that the film's events did not connect together, this is simply absurd. The film is a roller-coaster of surprises and twists that make it highly entertaining, especially the first time. When I first saw this in theatrical release, I was stunned because finally there was a film that didn't follow the very, very tired three-act formula. Here was something that actually kept you in suspense because you didn't know what would happen next. That's the mark of a great film in my opinion. I want to be surprised. I don't want to know everything that's going to happen 5 minutes into the film, the way you can with most of the crap that's being cranked out these days. This is a masterpiece and deserved far more attention than it received, but of course it pushed a lot of buttons among the general public.
Irishchatter
John was such a great actor on this, I'm really devastated that he is not with us today and didn't do more movies. I really liked his role as a serious quiet guy who is easily irritated by the neighbors next door. Believe me, I'm pretty sure we all have those types of people living next door to us haha!It was so odd to see Dan Aykroyd with Blondish hair. I'm normally use to seeing him always with brown hair in most of his films. I kinda did figure out that he had blue contacts instead of his usual brown eyes. They were stronger when he was talking on the phone. I say they hurt!Cathy Moriarty was such a blonde bombshell in this film. She looked like a sexy Grace Kelly trying to get at John Belushi's character. They should've been in bed together and I wanted this right from the start! I love this movie, I wish that Belushi and Akyroyd would do more if Belushi didn't unfortunately too soon. They were such a great team and they will always be the Blues Brothers that I always look up to!RIP Belushi <3 <3 <3
LeonLouisRicci
Comedy is the most subjective of Genres. Its divide is that You are either amused or You are not. The Black Comedy or Dark Comedy may be the most divisive, because the appeal or entertainment value demands You be in on the joke or there is trouble ahead.Troubled is a description of the behind the scenes production on this one. Drugs may be the culprit but to what degree is an enigma that no one, except folks who were there could begin to illuminate. Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi seem to be giving their all and from the performances it's hard to tell what was going on.The Female Leads alongside the SNL Alumni are two must mention contributors, Cathy Moriarty and Kathryn Walker, that add to the engagement with superb characterizations. A disturbing, oddball, and ethereal Movie it plays like "The Twilight Zone" and feels at times like the Direction of David Lynch or Tm Burton.The Film will linger and haunt no matter what You think of it. It has a way to attach itself to the subconscious and as Movies tend to do, make its way to the brain's receptors in a powerful persuasion to pay attention (much like mind altering drugs). Many viewers were not ready for its seductive and salacious charms and biting Satire.It's Suburbia gone mad with power lines that artificially disturb the psyche and the natural rhythms of the Earth (much like mind altering drugs). Nightmarish to say the least, it is the quirk that resides in this surreal environment that interferes with the commonplace. A unique Film going experience that is against the grain of the usual and the expected.Highly recommended for Cult Movie aficionados, Belushi and Aykroyd fans, lovers of the Avant-Garde, and those that want their expectations tweaked and challenged.Note...John Belushi's final Film.
cormac_zoso
I suppose this movie is one of those that divides the world into two camps ... but my camp will kick the hell out of yours, assuming you're in the camp that dislikes this classic.First off, I knew this was a great movie when I mentioned having seen it and my older brother looked at me with his well-practiced disdain and said 'it was the stupidest movie he'd ever seen' ... well that sealed it for me ... i knew it was a classic then ...Many people were completely thrown off by the somewhat reversal of roles for Belushi and Akroyd ... i suppose Belushi's role really threw off some people who couldn't imagine him playing the latter day burned-out shell of a man made famous by Spencer Tracy in "guess who's coming to dinner' (the great speech in the end) ... he's a worn out man who hates his job, cringes coming home looking at the long-empty house next door, and the sparks firing off the high tension lines out back ... you can just feel his inside sink as they must every day pushed and packed down tight by the crushing weight of the job he must hate ...Belushi relays all of this in the space of twenty seconds right at the start of the movie ... you don't need to know one more bit of background on his character ... it is a perfect piece of acting ... perhaps the single most perfect in a career filled with Belushi's usually over-the-top physical comedy but as wild as most of his best known bits are, this is so mild but yet complete it fits perfectly at the near-end of his career ... my god, it's sad to see it and think of how much more he could have accomplished without those nasty habits getting out of hand ... (at least it inspired plenty of other fellow comedians to clean up their hand and survive to develop their careers ... robin Williams comes to mind) but Cathy Moriarty plays the femme fatale to perfection and with the sexually suppressed, frustrated, and nearly shriveled up Belushi as her target, they make a great pair on screen ...and of course the madness that builds and keeps going and makes Belushi look like the crazy one ... but, and here's the warning spoiler, he is and finally fits in and becomes happy :) this is where my brother just griped and whined about how dumb the ending was ...he burned his house down ... HE BURNED IT DOWN lmao ... there ya go ... he finally 'went sane' :) watching it again for the first time in decades, this movie still holds its edge to this day ... show it to the kids ... it's nothing they can't see these days ... a true comedic classic