Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces

Other than enjoying Steve Martin's performances in a few iconic film roles, I knew relatively nothing about the man coming into this documentary-especially as it related to his stand-up comedy career. While "Steve!" certainly filled in a lot of those gaps, I found it to be "just okay" as a three-hour viewing experience in large part because I found one episode to be pretty clearly superior to the other.

The first episode focuses almost exclusively on Martin's childhood and then ascent in the magic/comedy realms-to the point of becoming one of the most popular stand-up performers in the history of the medium. I had absolutely no idea that he had hit those heights and was truly a cultural phenomenon. I really enjoyed this installment and its ending understandably teased a transition to examining Martin's film roles and present-day life.

While that second episode does ostensibly do those things, it does so from a very scattered perspective. Instead of the linear path of its predecessor, episode two is scattered. Martin's film career really isn't the focus-rather the result of reflections from his creation of a comic/sketch book of his life with an illustrator and just ramblings around Los Angeles with buddy Martin Short. There are certainly some stand-out nuggets in this installment (like Martin's newfound family life), but it meanders to the point of potentially being boring to some viewers. Unless you have a vested interest in Martin & Short sitting around swapping cringe-worthy punchlines, this hour-and-a-half might fall a little flat.

Overall, then, I settle on a solid-but-not-spectacular 7/10 star rating for "Steve!" as a whole. Parts of it really struck a chord with me and filled in Martin's "cultural gaps"; other parts were simply too slow and inane for me to identify with.

Greetings again from the darkness. We are now two full generations past the peak (and end) of Steve Martin's superstardom as a stand-up comedian. Today, he is mostly known as a banjo player, a writer, or as one of the three co-stars of the hit show, "Only Murders in the Building". That's right. At almost 80 years of age, and removed from his two previous fame-inducing careers (comedian and movie star), he "only" has three remaining paths to fame, glory, and gobs of money. Regardless of the Steve Martin era studied, what stands out is his remarkable ability to entertain - something he says captured his fancy the very first time he saw a stage.

Documentarian Morgan Neville won an Oscar for the spectacular 20 FEET FROM STARDOM (2013). He's also behind WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR (2018), an excellent profile of Mister Rogers, as well as numerous other documentary projects. With more than a half-century of Martin's career to somehow cover, Neville takes a "then" and "now" approach with what is effectively two films that split Martin's fabulous career into the two titular 'pieces'. "Then" covers the early developmental period, right up until 1980, when Steve Martin shocked the world by walking away from stand-up. "Now" offers a more personal and reflective look at his endeavors since.

For those of us who were around in the 1970's, "Then" is not just a nostalgic look back at how one man reinvented stand-up comedy (though it is that). It's also a fascinating look at Martin's childhood and his early pursuit of finding his place in the entertainment world. We hear Martin state, "I guarantee you I had no talent." Of course, whether that's accurate is debatable, but what he certainly had was persistence, ambition, and a desire to make it. As a 15-year-old working at Disneyland (he was born in Waco, Texas but raised in southern California) he learned the basics of magic and balloon animals through observation and relentless practice. He admits his educational background in Philosophy gave him a unique perspective in understanding himself and audiences. He gave himself until age 30 to "make it", and a fortuitous turn of events, made that birthday a special moment. He worked and massaged and practiced his routine - refining such silliness as an arrow through the head, happy feet, "Excuuuuuse Me!", King Tut, and "Wild and Crazy Guy" - all while wearing a white suit and sporting premature gray hair. In 1976, Lorne Michaels invited Martin to host a relatively new comedy show called, "Saturday Night Live" (something he has now done 16 times). Soon after, Martin released the first two comedy albums to ever go Platinum. This led to the first of his many movie roles in the classic comedy, THE JERK (1979). Director Neville highlights each step of Martin's amazing ascension via rare clips and input from Martin himself. And just like that ... comedy's first rock star walked off stage at age 35 and on top of the world.

"Now", the second entry in Neville's in-depth documentary, is much less about Steve Martin's varied career and much more about Steve Martin the person. To emphasize the contrast between 'Then' and 'Now', this second piece begins in Martin's kitchen showing him poaching two eggs (heavy on the pepper) for breakfast. Does that sound like showbiz? It's an entirely different approach as we watch Martin and Jerry Seinfeld have a conversation about comedy, while Tina Fey, his sister, and others give brief insight into their paths crossing with Martin. Even his wife, Anne Stringfield, offers up some personal scoop on the man who has protected his privacy all these years ... although it should be noted that their daughter only appears as a cartoon stick figure.

Much of this segment revolves around Steve Martin and his friend and "Only Murders in the Building" co-star, Martin Short, as they collaborate on jokes for their stand-up show ... all while jabbing each other with friendly one-liners. Short says the reason Martin hasn't aged is because he looked 70 when he was 30. It's that kind of friendly banter between friends. A most poignant moment occurs as Martin is going through his bound copies of movie scripts. PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES (1987) takes him back to his close friendship with the late, great John Candy, and the memories are almost too painful for Martin to bear.

It's fascinating to hear Martin talk about his humiliation when PENNIES FROM HEAVEN (1981) failed, and learn more about his devotion to fine art. To emphasize the personal change Martin has gone through, the director shows an interview clip from decades ago where Martin refuses to discuss the first painting he bought, and then juxtaposes it with a contemporary clip where he eagerly expounds on that painting and others. Martin doesn't appear to carry as much pride in his movie career as he should, and we see him working with illustrator Harry Bliss on a collection of memories and anecdotes from each film.

Morgan Neville likely underestimated the project when it began. He certainly benefitted from Steve Martin's willingness to open up and share his personal archives. A man of many talents and interests, with multiple careers spanning decades may be a challenge for a biographer, but for viewers, it's pure joy to stroll through the many reinventions of Steve Martin. His work is worthy of admiration, as is his willingness to open his life and reveal the hard work and dedication that goes on behind the curtain.

The film will be on Apple TV+ on March 29th.

Like other reviewers, I'm curious to know why the documentary was made in two pieces, other than the fact that it would be very long to watch in one sitting. In my case, viewing the documentary over two days, it definitely showed how Steve's life has changed over the years, certainly for the better. In that way, it's a very hopeful piece, one that proves how it's possible for someone to become more comfortable with who they are, more likeable, more relatable, etc. After seeing how much Steve struggled in the first half of his life, it's very heartwarming to see how much joy his entire life brings him today. Yes, the documentary is long and there are certainly parts that could have been trimmed but, like a lot of Apple TV+ programs, it feels like time well-spent when the final credits roll. Steve! Is an interesting study of a fascinating human being and certainly worth watching.

Beautiful documentary. It is filled with kindness. Very few people I love and respect as Steve Martin, he is in the company of Tom Hanks, Jeff Goldblum, Conan O'Brien...His life story is both a hardship and a triumph of man. There is wisdom in the film, about work, family, friendship, love. I learned about him so much from it for which I am grateful. I read the other comments on it, some find it boring or just simply bad, I should learn from Steve Martin and should not say bad things about others, I just wish they watched a marvel action movie instead if they wanted a lot of action. I cannot understand how could they not find treasure upon treasure in this. I hope Martin Short will live as long as, at least as, Steve Martin will, I wouldn't want a world where he stops creating. This is not a perfect film but it is for me. Thank you for making it.

The early statements in this fawning documentary that he was the only comic in the 70s breaking new ground and the most important comic is pathetic. Richard Pryor and George Carlin were comedic geniuses. For all his faults which came to light later, at that time Bill Cosby was huge and important in the comedy scene. And Gabe Kaplan. This documentary is boring and sadly lacks true context. Steve Martin's clownish act in the 70s and early 80s does not stand the test of time and he comes off as a novelty act in episode 1. They somehow make the very funny movie "The Jerk" into a bland footnote. Very disappointing documentary.