Steve! (Martin) a Documentary in 2 Pieces

Matt Roush says...

Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville presents an enthralling documentary profile of legendary comedian Steve Martin, now 78, reflecting on the many phases of his career and life. The first part, “Then,” is particularly absorbing as Martin struggles as a young man in the 1960s and ’70s to find his comic voice and an audience that would relate to his unconventional style. “I often hear, ‘Well, just be yourself.’ But who knows what their self is?” When he lands on his signature persona (white suit, graying hair, physical comedy) as an “overly confident idiot,” with early Saturday Night Live appearances catapulting his “wild and crazy guy” popularity, a superstar is launched. Part 2, “Now,” focuses on his film career, his partnership with Martin Short (on stage and in Only Murders in the Building) and his unexpected sense of contentment as a husband and father.

What's Worth Watching (Mar 29)