Steve Martin

(ph: Norman Seef)

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Martin

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982)

 

Juliet Forrest is convinced that the reported death of her father in a mountain car crash was no accident. Her father was a prominent cheese scientist working on a secret recipe. To prove it was murder, she enlists the services of private eye Rigby Reardon.

Both parody and homage to classic film noir cinema this movie doesn't have much of a sensible plot and lots of the jokes are quite silly, but it's lots of fun to see all those wonderful clips from old classic movies (and the stars of the time).

Halliwell*: "Ingenious but overstretched prank in which the hero apparently (by intercutting) gets involved with famous crime stars of the forties...The basic script is simply not funny enough to support the superstructure, though the selection of lines from the oldies is often ingenious."

Maltin**: "A one-joke movie...Fun at first, but with no story and cardboard characters, it wears thin fast; film buffs will enjoy it more than the average viewer." 

 

The Jerk (1979)

A simple minded, sheltered country boy suddenly decides to leave his family home to experience life in the big city, where his naivety is both his best friend, and worst enemy.

From memory: Steve Martin's first feature is occasionally funny and some jokes are not quite in good taste.

Halliwell (no star): "Hit-or-miss vehicle with flashes of satire and fallen aspirations to be a modern Candide."

Maltin**1/2: "...a hit-or-miss comedy...Some very funny moments, but after a while they're spread pretty thin."