The Jerk (1979)
Running Time: 94 min.
Stars: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters
Found at: SageNavin (Martin) has spent his entire life as the adopted son of a black family in Mississippi. Navin’s navity is taken advantage of at every turn, but before long he stumbles upon a simple invention that turns him into a millionaire. Of course, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and Navin’s stay at the top is simply not meant to be.
Comments: I first saw this movie during a lazy Saturday afternoon on TNT or TBS or some other second-hand movie network; it was my first encounter with Steve Martin. Since then I’ve come to enjoy Martin’s other works, but my love for this movie has never dimmed. It is a simple plot, but the jokes, gags, and spoofs that come out of it will have you rolling on the floor. The cat-juggling scene in particular deserves a good laugh. Though “The Jerk” is 25 years old, Martin remains as endearing as ever in the role of the nave country bumpkin. Check this film out on your next lazy Saturday. B+