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The Jerk (1979), Director: Carl Reiner,
rated R for language, sexuality
From rags to
riches... to rags.
  Starring:
Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King, Richard Ward, Dick
Anthony Williams, Bill Macy, M. Emmet Walsh, Dick O'Neill, Maurice Evans
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
- good
"I am not a
bum. I'm a jerk. I once had wealth, power, and the love of a
beautiful woman. Now I only have two things: my friends, and...
uh... my thermos. Huh? My story? Okay... It was never easy for
me. I was born a poor black child."
- Navin R. Johnson
Why watch this?
This is Steve Martin ground zero. Boom!
Plot Summary:
After realizing he is not actually the natural-born black child
of the family that raised him, a simple-minded man leaves his
Mississippi home to experience life in the big city. His extreme
naiveté leads him through a series of absurd odd jobs and
adventures, ranging from gas station attendant to carnival
worker, where he inadvertently invents a device that brings him
instant fortune. As his new wealth causes his life to spiral out
of control.
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Dad's Preview:
Comedian Steve Martin burst onto the scene as a regular
on Saturday Night Live. His stand-up routines featured
an assault of absurdist bits featuring memorable silly
phrases, banjo-picking and the fine art of cat-juggling.
This effort is his first feature film as his career was
heating up. It was a hit and blew open his stellar
career. The collaboration with director Carl Reiner was
a stroke of genius. Martin's portrayal of Navin R.
Johnson is right up there with Belushi's
Animal House (1978) and Carey's
Ace
Ventura (1994). Your first watch may confound
you ("Why is this guy so dumb?"), but trust me, give it
a second chance. The endless stupidity is the point, and
therein lies its true brilliance. |
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Aspen Film
Society; Universal Pictures |
