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Steve Martin in the movie "Roxanne" in 1987. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/moviecritic/comments (May be subject to copyright) |
That all changed in the ‘80s.
The early years
My earliest memories of Steve Martin are of two things. One weekend, I was staying with my cousins Nina and Carl in Lethbridge. They had cable television, which was still new and novel, and it was a Saturday night. I think it was “Saturday Night Live” we were watching. Steve Martin and Bill Murray, who I knew best from “Meatballs”, were looking into the camera, past the camera actually, at something “behind’ the viewer.
My earliest memories of Steve Martin are of two things. One weekend, I was staying with my cousins Nina and Carl in Lethbridge. They had cable television, which was still new and novel, and it was a Saturday night. I think it was “Saturday Night Live” we were watching. Steve Martin and Bill Murray, who I knew best from “Meatballs”, were looking into the camera, past the camera actually, at something “behind’ the viewer.
“What the hell is that?” Steve Martin asked.
“What the hell is that?” Bill Murray asked.
“What the hell is that?” Martin asked.
“What the hell is that?” Murray asked.
They went back and forth another two or three times.
Then Murray said, “Don’t put your lips on that.”
I didn’t really get it, but none of it was funny at all.
The other thing was the movie “The Jerk”, which came out in 1979. It starred Steve Martin, and a bunch of my classmates at St. Joesph’s School in Coaldale liked it. None of the things they said about the movie were funny to me.
Awhile later, I saw a sanitized version of “The Jerk” on the network television, Channel 13 to be exact.
Again, there were some things that were kind of funny, but not really that funny.
I didn’t really have any interest in seeing Steve Martin again.
That would change.
Dawn of the decade
Steve Martin started the ‘80s with more of the same, with these odd comedies, including “”Pennies from Heaven” in 1981; “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” in 1982; “The Man With Two Brains” in 1983; and “All of Me” in 1984.
Steve Martin started the ‘80s with more of the same, with these odd comedies, including “”Pennies from Heaven” in 1981; “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” in 1982; “The Man With Two Brains” in 1983; and “All of Me” in 1984.
In 1986, he co-starred in “Three Amigos” with Martin Short and Chevy Chase, and that was a good movie with a lot of laughs. That same year he would appear in “Little Shop of Horrors”, which I did not see back then but saw years later. I saw the movie after I had seen a stage production of “Little Shop of Horrors”, and it made me realize Steve Martin did a really good job in the movie.
Twenty-five free movies
My parents bought me a VCR for Christmas in 1985 from Baker’s Appliances in Lethbridge. The VCR came with a card for 25 free movies. Getting to Lethbridge was not that easy, so that card was unused for about a year.
My parents bought me a VCR for Christmas in 1985 from Baker’s Appliances in Lethbridge. The VCR came with a card for 25 free movies. Getting to Lethbridge was not that easy, so that card was unused for about a year.
Then my sister suggested something. She lived in Lethbridge and came out to the farm every week for Sunday dinner. She offered to get a movie on her way out of the city. We’d watch it on the farm Sunday afternoon, and she’d return it when she went back to Lethbridge. It was a great idea.
Romantic lead
One of those movies was “Roxanne”, which came out in June of 1987. It was a thinly veiled modern re-telling of “Cyrano de Bergerac”, starring Steve Martin, Darryl Hannah and Rick Rossovich.
One of those movies was “Roxanne”, which came out in June of 1987. It was a thinly veiled modern re-telling of “Cyrano de Bergerac”, starring Steve Martin, Darryl Hannah and Rick Rossovich.
The story is simple. A man wants to court a woman but just can’t find the words. He enlists a friend, Cyrano de Bergerac, who has an issue with his nose making him self-conscious and unattractive to some. Cyrano tells his friend just what to say, thus winning over the woman. The drama goes from there.
Martin plays the Cyrano role and, yes, he has an extra long nose. That’s what I mean by thinly veiled. Rick Rossovich plays his friend, and Darryl Hannah plays the object of their affection.
I was used to Steve Martin being over the top, slapstick, and never to be taken seriously. His role in “Roxanne” was such a departure from all his previous roles. He was understated, quiet and shy, and very charming.
He was absolutely awesome in that role, and it completely changed my view of him. He played a layered, textured role that was part funny, part serious, part sad, part contemplative and so much more. It made him human, believable and someone you may meet in every day life. He wasn't a caricature often just there for cheap laughs.
I was a fan after that.
Rest of the decade
Steve Martin would have an even bigger success later in 1987 with “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” opposite John Candy. He followed that up with “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” opposite Michael Caine in 1988; and wound up the decade with “Parenthood” in 1989, another solid movie.
Steve Martin would have an even bigger success later in 1987 with “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” opposite John Candy. He followed that up with “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” opposite Michael Caine in 1988; and wound up the decade with “Parenthood” in 1989, another solid movie.
By the close of the 1980s, Steve Martin was a much more likable, engaging and endearing leading man.
The years after
He would go on to have a prolific film career over the next three decades, which continues to this day. Some of his other roles were “L.A. Story” and “Father of the Bride” in 1991; “Housesitter” in 1992; “Sgt. Bilko” in 1996; “Cheaper by the Dozen” in 2003; “The Pink Panther” in 2006; and so much more.
He would go on to have a prolific film career over the next three decades, which continues to this day. Some of his other roles were “L.A. Story” and “Father of the Bride” in 1991; “Housesitter” in 1992; “Sgt. Bilko” in 1996; “Cheaper by the Dozen” in 2003; “The Pink Panther” in 2006; and so much more.
Parting thoughts
Steve Martin has undergone quite the transformation over the years. He used to be over the top, obvious, goofy, and more of a caricature than a person.
Steve Martin has undergone quite the transformation over the years. He used to be over the top, obvious, goofy, and more of a caricature than a person.
Over time, he evolved into a really good actor, portraying a variety of roles from the comedic to the dramatic and more.
It has been quite a transformation.
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