Review of The Jerk (1979) by Matthew O — 23 Nov 2014

The Jerk is Steve Martin's first film, and it is definitely a great start. Here is an odd and envelope pushing 70's comedy that has just the right amount of both lunacy and heart packed in it. Is there any other movie that has a rather heart wrenching break up scene end with the protagonist running out of a house clothed with only a dog? This blend is what makes The Jerk work, the jokes are crisp and funny and the characters are charming and lovable.

Even with crazy things happening like gas station shoot outs and a dinner of pizza in a cup the people that inhabit the world of The Jerk are ones you want to root for. Characters that could have been walking punch lines, like Navin's sharecropper family, feel like real human beings that care for one another.

Don't let that make you think this is a sappy Hallmark film though, the gags are biting and don't hold punches back. One particular moment that comes to mind is Navin's reaction to a couple of racists.

It's something that would cause groans in most movies, but here with Steve Martin's charm and wit it catches a big laugh and a bit of a gasp. Also special mention goes to the scene of a meal at a fancy restaurant, one that'll make you realize the epidemic of mollusks in eateries everywhere.

Even with the edge of these, there's still that heart of the cast living in them, making the humor feel more warm and personal than most edgy fare, but still keeping all the laughs that go with them.

Overall, while it lags a bit in the middle and isn't as good as Three Amigos, another Martin gem, there's a lot to love about this little picture, and if you are in the mood for a laugh fest this is one to go to.