What to stream: Revisit early work of Steve Martin alongside new doc
Streaming Friday on Apple TV+ comes a revealing two-part documentary about beloved comedian Steve Martin, directed by Oscar winning 20 Feet from Stardom director Morgan Neville. Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces, is a truly unique documentary project, the two halves distinctly different but fitting together to create an illuminating portrait of Martin and his relationship to fame and creativity.
The first half Then tracks his early life, through childhood, the budding of his comedy career, his boundary-pushing stand-up shows, and his meteoric rise to fame in the 1970s, becoming a pop culture sensation through his platinum-selling comedy albums, sold-out tours and many appearances hosting Saturday Night Live. The first part ends with Martin’s transition to a
film career with The Jerk, and his first major stumble with the poorly received Pennies from Heaven.
The second half of the twopart film, titled Now, follows Martin in the present day, costarring on the Disney+ hit Only Murders in the Building with his longtime friend and collaborator Martin Short, living a private life with his wife and young daughter. In contrast to the chaotic frenzy of his life in the 1970s, Neville captures Martin in moments of quiet contentment, biking with Short through Santa Barbara, fixing easy meals on the road, and reflecting on his life. It’s a fascinating and riveting watch, in which the elusive star opens up like never before about the highs and lows of his personal life and career.
But while Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces, is an absorbing watch, it will likely make you want to revisit his filmography, especially the early titles from the late 1970s and ’80s on which the documentary focuses. So here’s a little primer of where to watch some of Steve Martin’s earliest films, as an accompaniment to the doc.
His breakout role was obviously in The Jerk (1979), which he wrote and Carl Reiner directed. Martin stars as a simple country boy who heads off for life in the big city. The film was a massive hit and cemented Martin as a star. In 1982, Martin and Reiner reunited for the noir parody Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid. Rent them both on digital platforms.
The documentary also focuses on the 1981 flop Pennies from Heaven, a 1930s-style movie musical directed by Herbert Ross and co-starring Bernadette Peters and Christopher Walken. Martin in a sincere mode was not warmly received by critics and audiences, and the film explores how that failure was a deep wound for Martin. A fascinating object in his career history, rent Pennies from Heaven on digital platforms.
Of course, there’s the iconic 1986 comedy Three Amigos!, which Martin wrote with Lorne Michaels and Randy Newman, directed by John Landis and co-starring Short and star
Chevy Chase. Rent it on digital platforms.
Martin also wrote and starred in a couple of beloved romantic comedies, Roxanne, a 1987 Cyrano de Bergerac riff, and L.A. Story, the 1991 rom-com co-starring his future wife Victoria Tennant, Marilu Henner and Sarah Jessica Parker. Stream L.A. Story on the CTV app. Both are available to rent on digital platforms.
But while he was making these rom-coms, he was also starring as a beloved movie dad, in 1989’s Parenthood, directed by Ron Howard, heading up an all-star ensemble cast including Mary Steenburgen, Dianne Wiest, Jason Robards, Rick Moranis, Martha Plimpton, Keanu Reeves and Joaquin Phoenix. Stream it on Crave. He also starred in the 1991 film Father of the Bride opposite Diane Keaton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley (plus Short and a tiny Kieran Culkin). Stream it on Disney+ or rent.