What A Jerk

It had been a number of years since I'd seen The Jerk starring Steve Martin.  In the time since it's release, Martin has hosted Saturday Night Live more than anyone else and has completely reinvented himself.  So much so, he was almost unrocognizable to my kids who know him from his Cheaper By The Dozen films and other post 1990s films. 

He has completely moved away from his goofball persona that made him a star in the late 1970s.  I still enjoy the Steve Martin that was a superstar.  The King Tut Steve Martin, the Wild and Crazy Guy Steve Martin, Steve Martin, The Jerk.

The Jerk was released in 1979 at the height of his initial popularity.  He had released two hit albums, Let's Get Small and The Wild and Crazy Guy.  Wild and Crazy Guy reached number 2 on the US charts and had included the top-20 single King Tut.  The next logical step was a leading role in a comedy.

The Jerk was written by Martin and Carl Gotlieb, who wrote Jaws, Jaws 2 and Jaws 3-D.  It was directed by Carl Reiner, who also has a cameo in the film.  It tells story of Navin Johnson, a man out on his luck that was born a "poor, young black child".  Surprisingly, the film still stands up pretty well. 

Many of the jokes that were funny in 1979 still bring a chuckle.  M. Emmet Walsh's take as the "oil can hating" sniper is especially funny.  The "all I need is the lamp.. and this paddle ball..." scene is classic.  The bathtub "Dear Navin" letter scene is choice.  The "You Belong To Me" duet has even been used in a US. Cellular commercial.

It's no real surprise that Steve Martin moved away from the character.  There is only so far you can take that character without being completely type-cast.  It may have taken some time to do so, but Steve Martin is no longer remebered as the Wild and Crazy guy.  After seeing him in so many other roles, the Steve Martin as seen in the Jerk is a distant memory.  A memory that is still very funny when taken out of the nostalgia closet from time to time. 

If you haven't seen The Jerk in a while, try it again.  It is still a very funny movie that surprisingly holds up very well thirty years later.

I give The Jerk three Billys.