20 Things You Didn't Know About The Blues Brothers
1. The Sequel Eighteen Years Later Was A Critical And Financial Disaster
When Landis and Aykroyd made the sequel, several of the key players from the first film were deceased. Those remaining gave it a good effort; at best, Blues Brothers 2000 was Blues Brothers 2.0, aiming for the same mayhem and magic but not getting there.
The new Blues Brothers Band includes several of the original members plus new additions John Goodman and Joe Morton, and, for some reason, a ten-year old kid. Through a series of plot twists, the new band finds themselves pitted against a blues supergroup called the Louisiana Gator Boys.
The supergroup is admittedly an incredible lineup of legends including Eric Clapton, Bo Diddley, Isaac Hayes, BB King, Steve Winwood, and Dr. John, attesting to the draw of the Blues Brothers brand. The film also has cameos from dozens of other singers and actors of the day.
Despite a lot of effort, starpower, and good intentions, the success of the original couldn't be duplicated and the sequel made just over $14 million. Most reviews highlighted the musical talent but slammed the story as lame and derivative.
Really, the only way that Blues Brothers 2000 topped the original was the destroyed car count.
By 1.