Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:  
Summary: Steve Martin At His Best! Too Bad About the DVD Though!
Comment: Steve Martin shows his comedic genius here on this late 70s comedy that ages very well to remain funny in most parts even for today's audiences. The only problem is with this version of the dvd which although isn't too bad picture quality-wise, the sound quality comes only in the mono and so isn't very good. Also there are no special features of any kind which makes it probably wise to wait for a properly restored and remastered version with at least 5.1 surround options to surface in either the standard or Blu-ray formats. Also, this full-frame version seems to leave out a lot of the original film and so I would recommend at least an anamorphic widescreen version to do justice to your 16:9 screens.
Great work by Martin but perhaps you should give this particular version of the dvd a miss.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The "Jerk"
Comment: I have always enjoyed watching "The Jerk" and I ordered it for my grandchildren. They thoroughly enjoyed it along with my daughter and I am sure that they will wear it out watching it.
It was great finding the dvd on Amazon.com
Customer Rating:
Summary: THE JERK
Comment: EXCELLENT, QUALITY, GREAT SHIPPING AND FOLLOW UP BY THE SELLER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Customer Rating:
Summary: I'm not jerking your chain; this movie is really, really funny...
Comment: `The Jerk' is one of those comedies that is talked about by just about everyone; one of those comedies you feel almost incomplete if you haven't seen since everyone else around you has seen it and is always talking about it. Well, that's at least how it was with me until like a week ago when I finally got around to watching it.
The film tells the story of Navin Johnson, a white man who was raised by blacks. After finding his rhythm he decides to leave home and spread his wings. He picks up a slew of odd jobs here and there before joining the circus and meeting the girl of his dreams and then accidentally making millions when he creates an odd invention that proves to be a hit. After making his money and squandering most of it he finds himself destitute and alone, yet again.
Like the tagline suggests; this is a rags to riches, to rags kind of story.
The script is actually really well written because it manages to be funny almost all of the time. There are a few scenes that don't quite work too well, but the films short running time also helps with keeping the pace brisk and so the film really doesn't have time to meander on the weak jokes; they just move right along to the ones that work. Steve Martin (in his film starring debut) is a comedian whom we all have come to know and love and respect, and this may very well be his finest hour. He is utterly hysterical, and he actually manages to bring a shade of humane naivety to his characters senseless acts. We actually really like this guy regardless of how stupid he is.
Martin is helped out by a large and impressive cast, everyone from Bernadette Peters to Catlin Adams to M. Emmet Walsh showing up to raise the roof. Walsh has a hilarious role here as the madman who randomly picks Navin's name from a phonebook and plans to murder him. The scene alone may be the best scene in the film and is well worth the cost of the DVD.
Truth be told, this is not everyone's cup of tea or type of humor. This is far more slapstick than intelligent, but I think you would know that already. If you are more into the mature comedies then this may not be for you, but if you can appreciate a good `over-the-top' laugh riot then this is a film you're going to want to see. You're bound to find a laugh somewhere, whether it's from the name of Navin's dog or from the discovery of Navin's `special purpose'; this movie is designed to tickle that funny bone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Still hilarious after all this time
Comment: I'd forgotten how funny this one was, and how the comedies of the 70s and 80s were some of the best. Steve Martin is at the peak of his comedic form here, playing Navin Johnson, who is so stupid he doesn't even realize he's not a black person. Bernadette Peters gets to show off her vocal skills and comedic talent too, as Navin's lover, Marie.
Navin goes through a period of his life working at a gas station, then at a carnival, accidentally makes a fortune, then loses it all when the product that made him rich starts causing serious problems.
Not to worry---his large black family will always take care of their ridiculous white boy!
|
|
