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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best, but still worth seeing, August 31, 1998
By A Customer
I was happy to get a videotape that included some of the best and funniest moments in John Belushi's brief but brilliant career as a member of the Saturday Night Live cast. However, I was disappointed in the selection of material. Whoever chose the performances evidently feels that Belushi had as much or more to offer the world as a singer than he did as a comedian. This is a mistake, I think. Belushi was adept at imitating well-known performers like Joe Cocker and Roy Orbison, but this type of "appreciative imitation" does not hold long-term viewer appeal, really. This preoccupation with Belushi's musical talents carries over in an overexposure of Belushi and Ackroyd's "Blues Brothers" act. This was amusing in its time, with its accompanying social justice subtext (e.g., "Hey, we middle-class white guys can really appreciate the unheralded music of our soulful black brothers"). But twenty years later, it sounds hackneyed and overexposed. The Blues Brothers were good amateur blues musicians, but they were, in fact, amateurs, and not worth listening to/watching repeatedly.There are some funny Belushi skits on the tape, including his Brando imitation as "The Godfather" and one amusing "Samurai" episode. But some of the greatest Belushi classics are missing. For example, if one Samurai episode was to be included, it surely should have been "Samurai Night Fever," which featured co-star O.J. Simpson (who, whatever his crimes and human weaknesses, was a dynamite SNL host). There also should have been a good Belushi commentary that included his famous "But nooooooooo!" At the end of the tape there is a "montage" sequence in which are included snippets of a number of very funny Belushi skits that would have been better than some of those included in this tape. Maybe there should be a "More of the Best of John Belushi" sequel. I hope so. END
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Belushi is all that jazz, July 22, 2002
I mean, despite what I say, I think everyone should go out and get their hands on this. And anything else related to the great, late John Belushi RIP. This is SNL from the start. 1975. Its inception. Coming in at just around an hour, you could do with more. The entertainment in this show just flies past. Soon enough, you're grabbing for the remote and winding it back to the start to watch it all over again. The Blues Brothers are here. Belushi's mute samurai character is here. (If you're not familiar with this, here's another reason to get this). Belushi being Joe Cocker, Marlon Brando (two impersonations he excelled at) and a whole lot more.
Its nice to see a comic on the brink of super stardom coming into his own like this. (You'll also recognise Dan Ackroyd, Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner among others cropping up). Although brief, one of my favorite sketches is the 'Little Chocolate Donuts' spoof advert. That's to my taste and so is John Belushi.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you like John Belushi, buy this video., July 23, 2004
A Kid's Review
That is about all there is to it. John Belushi is, in my opinion, one of the best comedians of all time, but that is just my opinion. if you like John Belushi's work on Saturday Night Live, this is a must have. It showcases his hilarious skits and really does show the best work John performed. it is only an hour long, so some things are missing, but its definitely better than nothing.
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