‘Steve! (Martin): A Documentary In 2 Pieces’ Review – An Intriguing, Yet Enigmatic Portrait Of An Iconic Comedian

There are very few comedians who are more respected than Steve Martin. Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces reminds us of that sentiment as those who grew up with him take this walk down memory lane. Yet, there is a generation that knows him only as Fred Haden-Savage and has no idea that the man is one of the greatest and most popular stand-up comedians of all time.

After achieving so much success and setting ticket sales records, he walked away in 1981, never performing again. Apple TV+’s new documentary goes down easy and is not nearly a puff piece as some will surely make it out to be. However, for an artist who has always been enigmatic and guarded about his personal life and relationships, the new documentary in two parts leaves you yearning for more.

The first part of Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces chronicles the comedian’s attempt to carve out a niche in the stand-up comedy world in the 1970s. America was in turmoil, with Vietnam, blockbusting, racial tensions, and political upheaval dominating the stand-up comedy landscape. This was something that Tina Fey would later term “clapter.”

This type of political joke doesn’t necessarily make people laugh; it prompts them to applaud. It’s lazy because who could disagree? However, Martin saw an opportunity to fill a void left by political ideology and return to eliciting chuckles from the gut, not just the brain. It was an audacious move, considering Martin’s subversive style and humor were a bit of a high-wire act.

We are then treated to some rare insight straight from the legend’s mouth. He embraced his offbeat persona by presenting it in what people considered a typically buttoned-up manner. Martin‘s hair turned gray early and looked like a yuppie businessman in a suit. Then, on stage, acting like an unhinged alien, not knowing how to act in society.

However, once on stage, all hell would break loose, from the Great Flydini to his persona as a wild and crazy guy. Martin was obsessed with arrogance, which he explored on stage, and audiences lapped it up. His comedy evolved, breaking traditional comic norms by seamlessly blending absurdity and satire.

This is all well and good. However, the second part delves into his life after his legend was established. How does the comedian find happiness, love, and eventually a family? Part two often feels quiet and uneven in tone compared to part one, where the comedian’s comedy was akin to a punk rock movement at the time. With part one working so well, we can hardly fault the second half for slowing down to reflect the star’s life. The fact is, we evolve and are hardly the same person in our 20s as we are in our 70s.

The first half of Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces is well worth your time for fans and newcomers who should know just how influential Martin was as an artist and comedian. What detracts from this documentary is that Martin is inconsistent when it comes to his home life. Notably, despite his tough upbringing from his father and a handful of failed relationships, he never delves beyond the surface for the viewer, offering only superficial insight. For any documentary film, this is almost unforgivable.

Yet, when you revisit The Jerk, where he warns people to get away from the cans or watch him go to the bathroom while sitting at the dinner table while wearing an eye patch in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, you realize all is forgiven.

Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces is currently available to stream on Apple TV+.