THE MOMENT THAT STARTS THE CHAOS.
There are movie scenes that are funny because of the dialogue, and then there are scenes that make you wonder how anyone ever thought they were a good idea.
The bridge jump in The Blues Brothers belongs firmly in the second category.
Jake and Elwood Blues are already dealing with trouble when Elwood decides to demonstrate exactly what their new police car can do.
Instead of stopping when they see the drawbridge rising, Elwood does the complete opposite.
He accelerates.
The road disappears.
And suddenly, the Bluesmobile is flying through the air.
JAKE AND ELWOOD HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF SOLVING PROBLEMS.
One of the reasons the scene works so well is that Jake and Elwood never react to danger the way normal people would.
John Belushi plays Jake with a mixture of disbelief and confidence, while Dan Aykroyd’s Elwood remains remarkably calm behind the wheel.
The result is classic Blues Brothers comedy.
There is no long buildup explaining what is about to happen.
The brothers simply see the obstacle and go straight through it.
That attitude becomes a major part of the movie’s identity.
THE BLUESMOBILE BECOMES A CHARACTER OF ITS OWN.
The car is...
