Vatican newspaper calls "Blues Brothers" a "Catholic classic"

[SamDash]

Sigh.

TAORMINA, Sicily — When Jake and Elwood Blues, the protagonists in John Landis’ cult classic “The Blues Brothers,” claimed they were on a mission from God, the Catholic Church apparently took them at their word.

On the 30th anniversary of the film’s release, “L’Osservatore Romano,” the Vatican’s official newspaper, called the film a “Catholic classic” and said it should be recommended viewing for Catholics everywhere.

The film is based on a skit from “Saturday Night Live.” In the story, Jake and Elwood — played by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, respectively — embark on an unlikely road trip featuring concerts, car chases, clashes with the police and neo-Nazi groups, and attempts at revenge from a spurned lover, all, ostensibly, to raise money for the church-run orphanage where they grew up.

But aside from a brief appearance from Kathleen Freeman as a wrist-slapping nun referred to as “The Penguin” and the brothers’ periodic claim that they were on a mission from God, spirituality does not play a significant role in the film.

In addition to Belushi and Aykroyd, the film featured an all-star cast including musicians James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, and Chaka Khan, in addition to noted actors John Candy, Carrie Fisher, Charles Napier, and Henry Gibson, and cameo roles for Frank Oz, Steven Spielberg, Landis, Mr. T, and Paul Reubens.

With the recommendation, “The Blues Brothers” joins the list of dozens of films recommended by Catholic authorities that includes Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments,” “Jesus of Nazareth” from Franco Zeffirelli, Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of The Christ,” Victor Flemming’s “Joan of Arc,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” from Frank Capra.

 

[canadianguy1143]

Sigh.

Methinks, the editor has too much time on his hands. Let me suggest some REAL Catholic classics:

Shoes of the Fisherman
The Scarlet and the Black
The Jeweller’s Shop (written by Pope John Paul II)
The Rookie (Dennis Quaid)

There are others as well…

 

[Stylites]

Walking away from wife and family?
Speeding and reckless driving?
Endangering lives?
Dumping a girlfriend?
Lying?
Stealing from a motorist?
Sexual promiscuity?
Defrauding an inn keeper?
Molesting restaurant patrons?
Jokes about human trafficking?

All certainly standard Hollywood comical highlights, but hardly a “Catholic classic”. Even if an orphanage gets helped through all this evildoing, we’re supposed to be countering the Leninist idea that the ends justify the means.

.

 

[Yeoman]

While totally off topic, I thought I’d note that Belushi was raised in an Albanian Orthodox family and was raised in that branch of the Faith.

Not that this matters, it’s just interesting.

 

[Mary_Gail_36]

While totally off topic, I thought I’d note that Belushi was raised in an Albanian Orthodox family and was raised in that branch of the Faith.

Not that this matters, it’s just interesting.

He was also in the same social circle as Father Corapi back then.

 

[orapronobis10]

I watched this movie last night, partially because of the newspaper article. The nun who runs the orphanage, who is called “The Penguin” is a stereotypical mean nun who breaks yardsticks on the students while beating them (and she then changes to a metal rod).

Although she is a negative stereotype, she explains to the Blues Brothers that she does not want the money that she needs to pay the orphanage’s taxes to come from theft or sinful means. Jake has an “epiphany” in a Baptist church that he and his brother should get their band back together so they can make the money for the orphanage in a legitimate way. The nun says not to come back until they have “redeemed themselves.”

As a previous poster lists, they then engage in countless illegal activities to get money to the nun in a “non-sinful” way. Do the Blues Brothers redeem themselves? They get money for the orphanage, but are put in jail for all their illegal activity. Not exactly a Catholic message. The end does not justify the means.

The newspaper article compared the Blues Brothers to the Prodigal Son - but the Prodigal Son understood the seriousness of his offences to his father and to God - he came back humbly and begged forgiveness. In contrast, Elwood and Jake think they can break any law because they are “on a mission from God” - they are not humble, and they do not see anything they have done as sin - so they do not seek forgiveness. Is this redemption?

BTW, I watched this w/ my daughter - during the scene in the Baptist church w/ all the dancing in the aisles she said, “I take it this is a protestant church.” (!!!)

 

[Yeoman]

He was also in the same social circle as Father Corapi back then.

When he was growing up?

 

[Brenda_V]

He was also in the same social circle as Father Corapi back then.

When he was growing up?

I suppose you could say that since Fr. Corapi is 2 years older than John Belushi. Fr. Corapi was born in 1947 and John Belushi was born in 1949. Now John Belushi’s younger brother on the other hand may not have been part of the same social circle because he was born in 1954.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

L’Osservatore Romano must be a liberal rag…

 

[masuwerte]

“You boys could use some churchin’ up.”

 

[SamDash]

I admit to finding the movie moderately amusing, but it has precisely zero redemptive qualities.

Basically, the need to raise $5000 to save an orphanage is just the shallow plot device to allow Jake and Elwood to showcase their antics, which consist of their lying, cheating, and stealing their way through Chicago to collect the money.

As has been noted, “the ends justify the means” isn’t a message particularly in line with Catholic teaching.

True, they do go to prison at the end, but it’s not exactly Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment.

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Pope Benedict has probably not seen this “Catholic classic.”

 

[MarysRoses]

Not everything is deadly serious you know.

Catholic humor…??? Ever heard of that???

btw, I LOVED the penguin

 

[canadianguy1143]

Not everything is deadly serious you know.

Catholic humor…??? Ever heard of that???

btw, I LOVED the penguin

Last time I checked, The Osservatory Romano isn’t a comedy newspaper. Also there would be some disclaimer afterwards.