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The Radical Individualist's avatar

I've always been a Steve Martin fan. He can make fun of who we are and get us to laugh at ourselves. We can use a LOT more of that these days.

His all-time best is The Jerk. There's romance in that one, too. Sort of.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Indeed. 🥂

In addition to admiring his acting and comedy chops, I also have a ton of respect for him as a writer. L.A. Story is pretty dang brilliant, in my opinion.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Steve Martin and Bernadette Peters rock loony romance in The Jerk. One line from this wacky film has stayed with me my whole adult life. "All I need, to be happy, is this lamp." And I love it that he was born "poor and black" and never realized he was adopted.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

"My special purpose!!!" 😂😂

The Jerk is one of my husband's favorites.

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes! My special purpose. He was on to something. I am over 80 and I still haven't figured that out for myself. How about you?

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Oof. Unless, I'm remembering it wrong, The Jerk's "special purpose" was sex, which I'm happy to say I did eventually figure out. 😊 As for my broader purpose in life, I suspect I'll be perpetually in search of it while ignoring the fact it's been in front of me the whole time. 💜 Isn't that always the way?

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Sharron Bassano's avatar

Apparently.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

💕

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Graham Strong's avatar

Finally! Someone besides me who likes LA Story. Not a big movie in my part of the woods, apparently.

"So, I hear you're taking a course in conversation?" Steve says to a woman he met at a luncheon.

"Yes."

Classic.

Sadly, I don't think he did as well in "It's Complicated". I like the movie, but he falls flat for me. Like maybe miscast -- how does Martin play a restrained architect? More like re-strained, unfortunately...

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Meg Oolders's avatar

There are way too many good quotes from L.A. Story.

"It really clears out your head."

"I think you should go back in there and tell them they're doing it wrong. Well, it was a great lunch and enema. Thanks."

Did not see "It's Complicated," so can't know if I agree with your assessment. But "restrained" seems very un-Steve Martin-like to me. Perhaps I'll skip that one. 🙂

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Graham Strong's avatar

"It's Complicated" is worth watching. A twist on the rom-com for sure. Just don't go there for Steve...!

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Robin LaVoie's avatar

I LOVED All of Me and now I need to go watch it again to remember why teenaged me was so taken with it. I mean it’s Lily Tomlin & Steve Martin, c’mon, how could it not be all a little aspiring actor would want to watch..!

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Robin LaVoie's avatar

Aaaannd just watched All of Me on Peacock — so good, so romantic, so funny. My son liked the dance at the ending credits the best (so fun), but he even stayed to watch the whole movie which is huge! Gah, I do love that movie. Thanks for the reminder!!!

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Yay! You're welcome. I honestly don't remember how I discovered that movie, but I think maybe my younger brother and I caught it on T.V. one time and then rented it like 10 times after that because we thought it was so funny. 😂 I'm glad you could bond with your son over it, too. 💕

The courtroom scene kills me every time. 😊

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Alisa Kennedy Jones's avatar

Adored All of Me (as well as the others). So much great physical comedy and chemistry with Lily Tomlin. It's been wonderful to see him revive some of that physicality in Only Murders in the Building. Thanks for this lovely reminiscence. :)

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Meg Oolders's avatar

My pleasure.

I'm long overdue to watch Only Murders. I'm also a VERY BIG Martin Short fan, so ... not sure what I'm waiting for. 😊

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Mark R. Hunter's avatar

As a volunteer firefighter, "Roxanne" will always have a special place in my heart.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Love this comment, Mark. 🙂

Thank you for your service!!! ❤️‍🔥

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Leanne Shawler's avatar

“I could never be a woman, 'cause I'd just stay home and play with my breasts all day.” I mean, it’s a real problem … . 🤣

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Arguably, there are bigger problems, but I will validate his concerns. 😊

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Leanne Shawler's avatar

Also, there’s at least one K-Drama version of “All of Me”. The one that immediately leaps to mind is “Mr. Queen”, which also proves falling into bodies of water is a sure-fire time-traveling method.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Water is nothing but trouble. 😉

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James L Rickard's avatar

You want old? My favorite Steve Martin movie is Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. Unfortunately, those madcap early movies like that one or The Jerk never quite captured the lunacy of his stand-up. I saw 'em all tho!

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Dead Men came out in '82, I see. So, not quite as old as The Jerk. I've never seen that one, but as a fan of spoof Noir, I suspect I will love it.

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James L Rickard's avatar

I can't remember too much, I like the way he blended old scenes with the new ones. That was top notch! I hope you don't mind B&W movies because Dead Men is B&W to help the new and old scenes flow seamlessly. Even if you don't LIKE it, you'll appreciate it.

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James L Rickard's avatar

This reminds me--I gotta go to Walmart today and pick up a Thermos and rectal thermometer.

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Meg Oolders's avatar

don't forget to bring the ashtray, the remote control, magazine, the chair, and ...

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Claire Walster's avatar

Being of the younger generation, I have no idea what any of these movies are, but boy oh boy was I thrilled when I made it to the bottom and saw the Sokka "To the Library!" gif. I've seen that episode of Avatar so many times!

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Meg Oolders's avatar

Ha! Love this!

Being of the slightly older generation ... I had no idea what that gif was from ... only that it served my library enthusiasm purposes for this post. 😂😂

Thanks for reading, Claire! 💕

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