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Last updated: 11 Jun 2026 at 22:10 UTC

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Review of by Jens T — 24 Mar 2012

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Carl Reiner's comedy The Jerk was Steve Martin's breakthrough as a comedian. It all starts in the gutter of Los Angels where we meet Navin Johnson an alcoholic bum who tells us how it got that way. He grew up in as an african-american sharecroppers, but when he's a grown man he get to know the truth that his not black, but adopted, and then decides go out in the world and follow his dreams of being famous and rich.

I really enjoyed this film and thought it was funny, but it might have been some jokes that just took it to far or they simply where flat. But what really makes this movie work is Steve Martin's performance who is imitating a 30s black stereotype as the dumb but loyal servant. But there's also many other funny characters and also a loyal dog. Thumbs up.

This review of The Jerk (1979) was written by on 24 Mar 2012.

The Jerk has generally received positive reviews.

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