STEVE! (martin) a documentary in 2 pieces premieres March 29 on Apple TV+.
By Elazar Abrahams
Steve Martin is such a legendary figure in the entertainment landscape that a documentary about his life and career can’t be contained to just one measly film, it requires two parts. At least, that seems to be director Morgan Neville’s thinking, as the new doc about the comedy maestro spans over three hours, split into two distinct sections: “Then” and “Now.” The self-proclaimed “pieces” are aesthetically and structurally different, with the first much more archival heavy and the latter a more classical talking heads affair. While artistically interesting, it’s those stylistic choices that hold back the whole from being something truly exceptional.
“Then” traces Martin’s roots as a standup comic, starting with his influences and the fifteen years that he grinded it out on the club circuit without much success. Eventually, that wild and crazy guy will be selling out the largest venues around the country, be a household name, and his catchphrases ubiquitous. Make no mistake, there was a point where Steve Martin was the most influential and famous comedian in the world. For comedy nerds, this half of the documentary is a treasure trove of goodies, from anecdotes of Steve’s early SNL hosting gigs to rare footage of his earliest routines.
“Now” is everything else that the current generation would know Martin for, including his illustrious movie career featuring many cult classics. We also see a distinctly changed man from his early days; Martin left standup at the height of his fame in 1980, and has mellowed out quite a bit since the 90s. The story of how he met his wife and came to fatherhood later in life is heartwarming and just as engaging as the Martin Short scenes, of which naturally there are many.
The first part is impressively strung together with just archival video and photos, as well as some animations. We hear from Steve and his collaborators only over audio and narration, and then in the second part, there are a few movie clips, but for the most part it’s current footage following the subject. And boy, is the subject the highlight of the whole thing. The man is tremendously accomplished and intelligent. He speaks with grace and poise, knowing when to crack a joke in response to the filmmakers’ queries and when to respond with honesty. Viewers will learn a lot about his side projects, like composing two Broadway shows and amassing a sizable art collection.
A lot of the back half of the documentary takes a fly-on-the-wall approach to studying Martin which ends up not being super conducive to the entertainment factor of the piece. Those interested should certainly seek this doc out, but those on the fence may want to avoid an overstuffed affair, and overstuffed with inessential asides at that.
TV and City 