Product Details

• Actors: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King, Richard Ward
• Directors: Carl Reiner
• Writers: Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb, Michael Elias
• Format: Color, Dolby, Widescreen
• Language: English, French
• Subtitles: English, French
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal Studios
• DVD Release Date: March 4, 2008
• Run Time: 94 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (165 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NA6MMW
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,522 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "The Jerk [HD DVD]" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential video

Carl Reiner (Where's Poppa?) brought comic Steve Martin to the screen in this mostly funny 1979 movie about a relentlessly stupid but innocent man, whom we get to know from childhood (where it never occurred to him that he was white as he was raised by a family of black sharecroppers) to romance (where he doesn't quite know what to do with Bernadette Peters). Martin is game as the moron, and this is the kind of film with funny moments people still talk about. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

That wild and crazy guy, Steve Martin, makes his film-starring debut in the wacky comedy hit The Jerk. Steve plays Navin Johnson, the adopted son of a poor black sharecropper family, whose crazy inventions lead him from rags to riches…right back to rags. Steve propels Navin through a string of misadventures-becoming smitten with a lady motorcycle racer, surviving a series of screwball attacks by a deranged killer, and becoming a millionaire by inventing the "Opti-grab" handle for eyeglasses-and shows why he's one of the hottest comic performers in the world.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great movie...VERY disappointing DVD release..., October 1, 2006

By 

Comic Online (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jerk (26th Anniversary Edition) (DVD)

This is one of my favorite comedies. It's not for everyone, as you must understand Martin's unique style of humor. That having been said, the DVD is awful.

The transfer is decent, although could have been cleaned up more. Luckily, it's at least anamorphic widescreen. The sound, while hardly sounding like 5.1, still sounds decent, as i doubt surround sound was on the mind of film makers in 1979. Seriously, it's not Star Wars.

Extras? Fugetaboudit! NO commentary. NO making-of. NO interviews. Just one delected scene, trailer, and a dumb ukelele lesson.

The WORST part! There are scenes missing! Perhaps this version of the film is exactly as it was released in the theaters, but i'm too young to know. However, every time i've seen it on television, there were scenes not present in this release...such as the several different people requesting donations from the rich Navin Johnson. In this, you only get the Mexican priest. Where's the guy who needs new seat covers on his plane? That scene was classic!

You know, this is the SECOND release of this film on DVD, and they call it an "Anniversary Edition." If they're going to give it a name like that, they could at least include the cut of the movie with extra scenes added back in. Maybe the commentary and a simple 15-minute making-of is asking too much, but at least give us the material that's already in the can.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars MY Favorate Movie Ruined!, May 15, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Jerk (DVD)

I Love Steve Martin and The Jerk Remains one of my favorate Flicks, HOWEVER, I also own the VHS Tape Version of this Film and there are SEVERAL FUNNY Quotes and Lines that were cut from the DVD. Why on Earth would they do that. The DVD is supposed to be packed with extras, or at the very least, THE COMPLETE MOVIE VERSION. I am very disapointed with the DVD becasue parts of the Movie were actually removed. What a SHAME to bastardize a CLASSIC. Right from the begining of the Movie when Steve Martin goes to the Gas station to use the bathroom, Jacky Mason and Steve's lines were cut. I was so upset that I didnt watch the rest of the movie and who knows what else was cut. I want the DVD in it's origonal form. There was no reason to cut those lines.. They were not offensive in any way and really added character and laughs to the movie..Where they asleep when they edited this DVD. HEADLINE: "WHAT A SHAME, CLASIC MOVIE RUNIED"
-Gery-

110 of 126 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good movie, deserves better treatment in the DVD format, January 3, 2003

By 

terpfan1980 "Barry" (Somewhere near Washington DC, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Jerk (DVD)

NOTE: review below was in regards to the Full Screen or Pan & Scan version of The Jerk that was the initial DVD release. A later edition was released which does respect the movie and offer it in widescreen format. If you are purchasing, be sure to get the anniversary version of the movie so you'll see the ENTIRE movie and not lose the images on the edges of the screen. Remainder of original review left as is. Thanks!
---
First off, I love this movie. It's silly, it's funny, it's touching in some places, but mostly, it's just entertaining.

My biggest complaint with this DVD is that it's one that offers little to no bonus value, and, to me, commits the cardinal sin of not putting the movie in it's original format - instead offering only a Pan and Scan Full Screen presentation.

I've hoped for several years that this movie would get a 'special anniversary' or other 'collectors edition' that would offer the original wide screen format and some decent special features, but finally had to break down and purchase this 'original' release of the DVD because my wishes seem to be going unanswered.

Please note that I rate the movie itself here a full 5 stars (* * * * *), but the DVD gets only 2 stars, for it's lack of respect to the buying public.

The movie was a classic when it was released.

Steve Martin, the ultimate 'white guy' finds himself 'born a poor black child', without rhythm and unable to figure out why he doesn't fit in with his Black brothers and sisters.

He gets motivated to go off and discover himself, and his adventures along the way are a total riot.

In many ways a model that could have been used for the original "Rain Man" character, Navin R. Johnson (Martin's character) had a simple charm and naive streak that was almost unbelievable, but too funny not to laugh at.

This movie is a comedy classic, and it deserves a Special Edition and better treatment on DVD. Hopefully someday it will get just that.