Continental Divide

I really enjoyed this movie. No, it is not the deep heady stuff, nor it is a slapstick comedy. It is a movie about two people living in different worlds that cross paths, fall in love, and so on. For Belushi, this role is as much of a course change as it is for his character when he goes into the mountains. This is as far from SNL, Animal House and The Blues Brothers and Being There is from the Pink Panther Movies and Dr. Strangelove for Peter Sellers. Blair Brown's character (Nell Porter) is totally hot in that special, wholesome, outdoors way. You can how a guy could fall for her.

All in all, this is a fine movie to rent for a night of popcorn, or maybe trail mix munching, with the family. Don't wrap yourself up too tight in trying to analyze every little nuance of the movie, like so many of the wannabe critics that inhabit these reviews. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

This movie gives me one more reason to wish that John Belushi had taken care of himself, rather than diving into self-destruction. It shows that he had talent well beyond sketch comedy, or Animal House buffoonery. I wish he were still with us.

I'm a sucker for romantic comedies, and -- while not as comedic as most of the genre -- I think Continental Divide definitely qualifies. It's a great "opposites attract" film, and it works for me. The fact that each of the central characters has a vocational passion makes them all the more attracted to each other, despite their callings being separated by a lot of geography, and a lot of psychological differences. I love the scenery, I love Blair Brown, and I love the energy of Belushi's character. We can't bring him back, but I'm thankful we have J.B.'s films to watch forever.

Predictable and clichéd as it may be, Continental Divide isn't a bad film. The performances are sincere, the mood upbeat, and the characters easy enough to root for. The story deals with a streetwise Chicago reporter having to get out of town for a while after incurring the wrath of a corrupt local politician. Is there any other kind in the Windy City? Anyway, his editor and the editor's wife think he should write a story about a mysterious female ornithologist living in the mountains of Wyoming. Apparently she has lived all alone for 4 years and has become the world's foremost expert on bald eagles. Predictably the reporter is skeptical of this assignment, but of course in the very next scene we see him stumbling up the side of a mountain, cursing the entire way. Naturally when the reporter and scientist meet, it isn't love at first sight. They bicker about this and that between shots of nature and occasional animal attacks. The reporter is sexually attracted to the woman, but it takes a while for her to dump her mountain man lover and warm to her new guest.

In some ways, this plot reminded me of Crocodile Dundee which I've seen recently. Only this time, the reporter mostly stays in the wilderness and HE is the fish out of water. This film clearly marked a turning point in Belushi's brief career. Here he was definitely trying to tone things down from his demeanor in previous films, and he pretty much pulls it off. He could have played just about any role had he lived long enough to do so. He does however look about a decade older than he actually was when this was made. The years of drug abuse were taking their tole. Blair Brown is fetching, energetic, and someone who could have had a bigger career. She is believable as the bird-lover, though the interior of her cabin is too LL Bean-ish compared to the rugged exterior we see in outdoor shots. Indoor and outdoor scenes were likely filmed in different locations. And the film uses the scenic Empire Builder route of Amtrack as the setting for a marathon love-making session by our two leads. Very romantic, indeed.

This film has some glaring lapses in logic, as many romantic comedies do. Do you really think that street muggers would recognize even the most famous of city beat reporters on sight as they rob him for his watch and wallet? How about prostitutes? These don't seem like the types that read newspapers too often. How often do hunters actually shoot at bald eagles? Not much if ever. Despite their reputations among city folk, most hunters have a great love and respect for nature and would never take a shot at an endangered symbol of our country. It does set up a scene with an interesting payoff, though. 6 of 10 stars.

The Hound.

John Belushi's screen persona is fixed in most peoples minds thanks to his performances in the raucous, knock-about comedies 'The Blues Brothers' and 'Animal House'. But here he gets the rare chance to put in a performance of exceptional depth and nuance. Belushi plays hard-boiled investigative journalist Ernie Souchak who finds himself a little too close to some major City Hall corruption, and so, on the advice of his editor and friend, he heads to the mountains of Colorado, to chill and to write a piece on a reclusive conservationist, played to exquisite perfection by Blair Brown.

The film begins as a serious piece on political corruption but soon turns into a charming, bittersweet 'fish-out-of-water' romance. The scenes set amongst the Colorado mountains feature some of the most breathtaking cinematography I've ever seen. The movie belongs to John Belushi though. He puts in a splendid mature performance, dominating the action like a major presence. It is through this movie, rather than his more famous works, that I feel we now sense the feeling of loss that his tragic early death gave the world of cinema. He carries all the weight and clout of a genuinely gifted actor, and his comic timing, even in the smallest scenes, is a joy to behold. Blair Brown, too, is another enigma. Why is she not much more famous than she is? Her performance is both tough and sexy, and she and Belushi make a great screen partnership. Throw into the mix one of the rare screen appearances from the great Tony Ganios, and this really is a movie worthy of rediscovery.

Watch for it.

John Belushi - who would have turned 58 today - is remembered as Bluto Blutarsky ("Animal House"), Wild Bill Kelso ("1941"), Jake Blues ("The Blues Brothers"), and various "SNL" characters; all totally wacky. In "Continental Divide", he got what was probably his one serious role. Although most people pooh-poohed it, I didn't find it that bad. As a Chicago reporter developing a relationship with an eagle researcher (Blair Brown) in the Rocky Mountains, Belushi got the chance to say that he had one serious role before his untimely death. If that is the movie's only real strength, then so be it. It may be worth seeing just for that.

And if I may add one thing: people need to give "1941" another chance.