TITLE:   The Jerk
DATE:   1979                                         
GENRE: Classic Cult Comedy
RUNNING TIME: 1hr 34 min
RATING: R
FORMAT: Dvd
SCRIPT: Steve Martin and Carl Gottleib
DIRECTOR: Carl Reiner
STARRING: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King,

"No matter what the times are, a strong comedy is always welcome."- Steve Martin

This was in some production notes on the DVD extras in 26th Anniversary Edition of Steve Martin and Carl Gottlieb's "The Jerk" directed by Carl Reiner. For some reason I have always had a soft spot for Steve Martin in many of his older films such as "The Man with Two Brains", "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and his appearances on "Saturday Night Live" . I believe the quote that started this review has special wisdom that I couldn't have said better myself. His special type of humor, offbeat humor, really really offbeat humor had me laughing more in the first ten minutes of this movie than I have in a total of 3 or 4 months.

 The beginning of the film  he reveals that he was "born a poor black child". In a matter moments later upon identifying that he feels different that of his beloved poor share cropper family (possibly tipped off by his unusual irregular sense of rhythm) and runs sobbing to his room, his loving mother confides in him that he was adopted and raised as one their own. Steve Martin looks his mother (played by Mabel King) and with tears streaming from his eyes and chokes forward  "You mean... I'm gonna stay this color?" He then embarks on a rags to riches story spawning from a need to find "his special purpose."

 With his earnest performance, Steve Martin more than solidifies well placed punch lines at the end of some of the best physical and situational gags that I can say that I can't remember laughing out loud so much at a movie in recent memory. It it very refreshing to revisit this classic comedy gem, in a time where many modern comedies try too hard to be clever (and usually seems a little forced) thus not being very funny; or on the opposite side of the spectrum, many modern comedies are over the top with a cynical mean spirited comedy ethic. Steve Martin's "The Jerk" is a welcomed oasis in recent times when we work too hard, take our lives way too seriously, and are begging for a comedic savior to give us that honest therapeutic guttural laugh. I highly recommend adding this film to your collection to pull out once in a while when you need to melt some troubles away,  like during a needed vacation.

This is  TJPARSONS, and I hope you enjoy the film.