When Steve Martin spoke about the enduring appeal of his first feature film, "The Jerk," he said he and the writers (Carl Reiner, Carl Gottlieb, and Michael Elias) had one goal in mind: a joke for every page of the script.
Judging by the incredibly high laughs-per-minute ratio in this 1979 classic comedy, Martin succeeded. He also gave us early peeks into what would make him such a unique comedian and a key fixture in the three-headed giant that is “Only Murders in the Building” — punching out tightly written one-liners, then amplifying them with wildly BIG slapstick movements when the scenes call for it. Which they often do in "The Jerk," a classic comedy that is sadly leaving Netflix on September 1.
What is 'The Jerk' about?
"The Jerk," directed by Reiner (who would go on to helm three more films with Martin), has a Forrest Gump-like trajectory as it tells the story of a precious and clueless Southern man who navigates a herky-jerky (pun intended) life.
Navin Johnson declares he “was born a poor Black child” and the story doesn’t stray one inch from that absurdist premise.
One day, his Black family finally announces to Martin how he isn’t Black and they took him in as a baby, which sends him into a rage. He then leaves his Mississippi home to “find my special purpose.”
Online boards have been discussing for years whether this introduction to Navin has aged incredibly poorly, as does the liberal use of the N-word near the end of "The Jerk."
These terms and context can feel out-of-touch, but the satire is so thick in the film, you never take anything too seriously, and if anything, the later scenes show the consequences for racists openly flaunting their hatred.
Sight gags, romance and the Opti-Grab
The more the film goes on, the more you feel at home with the hilarious jokes and pitch-perfect parody that feels like it could nestle in comfortably in the "Naked Gun" series.
For example, one of the early scenes follows Johnson as he works at a gas station, managed by the wonderfully surly Harry (excellently played by Jackie Mason), trying to figure out why oil cans keep exploding around him.
“What’s with these defective cans?” Navin cries out as Martin’s spastic limbs amplify his confusion, only to realize much later than the audience that there's a sniper hiding in a nearby hill.
Later, Navin goes on to work in the circus, where he enjoys his first romp with a woman, but once he meets Marie (Bernadette Peters), a new infatuation blossoms. She falls in love with him, but their romance gets rocky, for reasons I won’t spoil here.
(Fun fact: Peters and Martin were dating at the time of shooting this film, so whatever sparks you see fly, that isn’t CGI.)
What happens next, and well, after that, is worth the time you take to boot up Netflix and revel in one of the most memorable characters Steve Martin has ever lived inside.
From 'The Jerk' to comedy legend
Concerning the title, Martin plays Navin more like a fool than an obnoxious twit, even though our common association of the word “jerk” isn’t linked to idiocy. Thankfully, he never pushes Navin so far out in a direction that feels silly and tiresome, a la "Dumb and Dumber."
Navin just wants to be somebody, but he’s so obtuse about how the world works, he keeps trying and failing to fit in. You root for Navin to simply achieve what he wants: a purpose he can be proud to show off to his family back home, whom he still regularly writes to.
This charming innocence Martin brandishes in Navin levels up "The Jerk" from a comedic banger — where you truly will miss a joke if you laugh for too long — to a rags-to-riches-to-rags story that hits you in the feels.
"The Jerk" started a hot run for Martin, who went on to string together hit after hit such as "Three Amigos," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," "Roxanne," "Parenthood," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Father of the Bride."
"The Jerk" started a hot run for Martin, who went on to string together hit after hit such as "Three Amigos," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," "Roxanne," "Parenthood," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and "Father of the Bride." Let’s not forget the frenetic pace he brought to one of his wackier roles in "The Man with Two Brains," also directed by Reiner.
For a glimpse into what kind of humor Martin wanted to bring to the script, and to gauge if these sly jokes work for you, he once told a live audience about his favorite joke in "The Jerk." It’s a little one, he says, and you might miss it if you don’t pay attention for a couple of seconds.
When Navin is hitchhiking from his hometown, a driver pulls up to ask him if he’s going to a particular city: “St. Louis?”
Navin: “No, Navin Johnson.”
Watch "The Jerk" on Netflix until Sept. 1
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