Things that held his career back?

https://lebeauleblog.com/2012/02/05/what-the-hell-happened-to-kim-basinger/#comment-99305

Sun Jun 27 2010 06:54:17

Aykroyd was overshadowed by many of his SNL co-stars/contemporaries in movies largely because of how truly selfless, and lacking of ego, he was. He could have easily played politics (as I believe some others would have) on the set of TRADING PLACES when it became evident that his second billed, younger and less experienced co-star(Murphy) was going to become that film’s star attraction but he didn’t. The guy wrote both the Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and respectively gave the lead roles to his buddies.

Mon Oct 18 2010 03:25:44

He lost his edge for good comedy and he got fat and lazy. Then he picked movies which looked like hits on paper even though they were not funny or well thought out. The Great Outdoors, Nothing But Trouble, The Couch Trip, the one with Gene Hackman, and many more.

Mon Jan 31 2011 19:54:57

Part of his problem was he was too talented–he didn’t have to depend on a shtick or a persona like Murray and his smart-aleck slacker routine (much as I love it) or Eddie Murphy as the fast-talker spouting jokes a mile a minute (though Eddie can do a lot more than just that). Aykroyd’s not as easy to classify, and I think that made him less identifiable and marketable. Also, as another poster said, he excelled in elevating his cast members, not so much stealing scenes (though I think he holds his own in Blues Brothers, Trading Places, etc).

Fri Feb 4 2011 21:55:24

“Too talented”? Give me a break man.

I respect and love Aykroyd’s early stuff, Blues Brothers, Neighbors, Spies Like US, Ghost Busters, Trading Places, but later in his career the guy just made too many crappy films, people got tired of being burned and quit going to see movies starring him and his career dried up.

Stuff like Caddy Shack 2 and Blue Brothers 2000, Celtic Pride, Nothing But Trouble, Sgt Bilko, etc etc etc.

The last movie of his that I saw was Blues Brother 2000, and BB2000 was literally one of the worst movies I’ve ever paid money to see. Just an awful awful movie that should have never been made.

I mean you watch his early movies and SNL and you can see how great he was, but then you watch something like Caddyshack 2 or BB2000 or just about any comedy he made from the early 90’s on and they’re just complete garbage.

That’s what held his career back. Same thing happened to Chevy Chase, John Travolta and lots of other talented performers. No matter how much talent you have if the movies you’re making are bad people are going to quit coming to see them.

Tue Dec 27 2011 00:16:05

Oddly enough, i kinda liked Blues Brothers 2000. No where near as good as the first one, but there were still really good moments and awesome songs 🙂

I do have to admit that his best work was in his early career (One of my favorite characters of his was Sgt. Frank Tree from 1941), and he is an amazing writer, but later on, I think people just kind of moved on. You know, to newer people, and he kind of moved on as well, didn’t he? Like now he does that crystal head vodka thing, and he hosted (not sure if he still does) that house of blues place.

Sun Oct 21 2012 02:10:25

I look at his filmography and realize he’s only got a few really standout movies. He seems to be a nice guy who doesn’t rock the boat so I guess he’s been able to survive in Hollywood. He’s made a lot of movies but really nothing substantial since the 80’s.

Absolutely no excuse for The Couch Trip and Nothing But Trouble, those right there would have killed anybody else’s career right then and there.

Sat Jan 12 2013 16:47:47

True but usurping the other two aforementioned in order to elevate Dan doesn’t help the argument you know Bill is way more capable of just smart aleck-ness and he at least tried to really “act” early on (Razor’s Edge, Mad Dog and Glory) but audiences wanted him to just keep acting goofy.

Sun Mar 24 2013 21:27:58

Aykroyd is like the consummate pro who works best in a comedy troupe style
environment. I’ve read so many interviews where SNL cast members claim he
saved SO many sketches that were bombing, back in his time on SNL.

He was also a top-notch writer and a guy who, from interviews, cared about
the product more then he did how he, as an individual, was perceived.

I thought it was really telling where, in an interview with the members of MONTY
PYTHON, they came out and said that, of all the people on SNL, Aykroyd was
the one who they felt would have easily made it as a member of Python.

He was a top-flight comedic legend who, in his later years, kind of got
typecast in a particular type of role.

He also pursued his own interests.