I've seen Animal House and Blues Brothers and old SNL shows with John Belushi. I think he was very funny in a clownish way, but never understood the adulation. I figured it was because he died young. That's always sad.
And then I saw this movie and fell in love with him. He was adorable, street smart, but sweet and vulnerable.
I guess it's like looking at clouds. You see one thing and I see another. Peace.
He certainly had a lot of natural charisma. It's hard to dislike him. He would've no doubt been able to excel in more dramatic roles like Continental Divide. His death was especially tragic.
My favorite scenes of his were the more dramatic ones. When I heard he was to act in a more serious movie, I couldn't wait. I loved the scenes in which he confronts the alderman about Kirk Hellinger's fire escape death, and the sadder scenes with Nell when they're not sure how to handle her life in the rockies and his life in Chicago.
However, I thought it was a bit on the light side. It was an enjoyable movie and I liked it a lot (don't know why it's not on DVD), but being a little heavier would have made it a great film.
I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked.
Yes, this was a bit on the lighter side. I have no doubt Belushi would have evolved tremendously as an actor and been able to take on most any role. Sad we didn't get to see it happen.