BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
(FOUR) PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES
This movie is responsible for a lot really good road trip movies of the past quarter century. There are road trip comedies with two opposites going through hell to get to their destination… then there is Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. This is the one that started them all. John Candy plays a loveable loud mouth while Steve Martin plays the dry straight man. It’s a different role for Steve, but he did it very well. The chemistry between the two was good stuff. There is not much about this movie that’s still not hilarious. It’s one of those timeless comedies, something Steve Martin has made a career of.
(THREE) MY BLUE HEAVEN
It’s not really a “dark” comedy persae, but it’s pretty close. This 1990 movie starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. In this one, Martin plays a former gangster who is in witness protection. Moranis is in charge of keeping an eye on him. Hilarity ensues. It’s a really charming movie, but it’s really off kilter. I remember watching it when I was younger and not understanding all the jokes. Still I was so enthralled by how entertaining and over the top Martin’s character was.
(TWO) PARENTHOOD
I’m sure he was respected, but I think it had to be Parenthood that gave Steve Martin his biggest acting upswing. I love his older movies, but this was a family comedy that was huge. He was the leading man, the father, and the charmer. If you watch this movie and don’t enjoy Steve Martin’s take on parenthood then you’re no one I’d ever want to meet.
(ONE) THE JERK
This is not only Steve Martin’s best movie; it’s one of my favorite movies of all time. Steve Martin stars as a naive white man who grew up in a poor black family. The movie follows his journey out into the world. He works at as gas station and then a traveling carnival. Before you know it, he’s a millionaire. With the money he becomes a jerk and isolates anyone and everyone he’s ever cared about. He winds up broke, but not without one of the greatest scenes of all time. You know what I’m talking about. The “all I need is THIS lamp…and THIS chair…” scene.
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