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The Jerk (1979)

Steve Martin , Bernadette Peters , Carl Reiner  |  R |  DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (220 customer reviews)


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Product Details

  • Actors: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Catlin Adams, Mabel King, Richard Ward
  • Directors: Carl Reiner
  • Writers: Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb, Michael Elias
  • Producers: David V. Picker, William E. McEuen
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
  • Subtitles: English, Spanish
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: R (Restricted)
  • Studio: Universal Studios
  • DVD Release Date: April 29, 1998
  • Run Time: 94 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (220 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 0783226799
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,330 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "The Jerk" on IMDb

Special Features

None.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

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

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 raise

Customer Reviews

Great, funny scene. JRC  |  37 reviewers made a similar statement
If you want to laugh, if you can laugh, buy or rent this movie! TawnTawn  |  32 reviewers made a similar statement
This is one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Johnny C  |  33 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
101 of 105 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Great movie...VERY disappointing DVD release... October 1, 2006
Format: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.
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60 of 62 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars MY Favorate Movie Ruined! May 15, 2003
By A Customer
Format: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-
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52 of 56 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Movie deserves 5 stars while "Anniversary" edition 2 August 4, 2005
Format:DVD
Surreal to the point of silliness, "The Jerk" captured the atmosphere of comedy perfectly in the 70's. Before Robin Williams broke through to a larger audience on the big and little screen, Steve Martin was THE JERK. As dense as a brick, Martin doesn't so much as act like a jerk as become one. Opening like a variation on all those Hollywood tales where the hero of our story is down on his luck but soon to be redeemed (of course, this IS a comedy so it's unlikely he'll get the redemption we expect because, well, that wouldn't be funny), Navin Johnson (Martin) mentions at the beginning that he was "born a poor black child". Adopted by a poor African-American family living in poverty, Navin is horrified to discover that not only is he adopted but he's always going to be Caucasian and have absolutely no rhythm. Navin discovers he does have rhythm after all ("praise the Lord!") when he listens to a radio playing dance music from the time. Navin eats his Twinkies, learns the difference between sh-t and Shinola and hits the road hoping to be rich. Armed with the advice his family gives him ("God bless the working man...and remember never trust whitey!"). He hitchhikes getting his first ride which takes him to the end of a fence getting about twenty feet away from home. Needless to say, life is more than an adventure for Nathan and his dog Shithead; it's a vocation.

Receiving a very nice transfer, "The Jerk" looks typical of a film from the late 70's with noticeable film grain and while the colors aren't quite as vivid as I would have thought, they're acceptable. This is the first widescreen presentation for the film so that's something to be thankful for. There's quite a bit of analog debris in the form of dirt (in fact it looks as if this is exactly the same transfer as the previous edition).
... Read more ›
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113 of 129 people found the following review helpful
Format: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!
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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.
... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great old movie!
I remember watching this movie when I was younger and I watched it this time with my 18 year old sun. I think he likes it as much and I!!
Published 5 days ago by Timothy M McGregor
2.0 out of 5 stars sloppy acting
I usually love Steve Martin but this was pretty far back and his acting was so fake I couldnt get past the first 10 minutes. Waste of time for anyone with a fully functioning brain
Published 5 days ago by Carolyn Greving
5.0 out of 5 stars The Jerk RULES!
Our son is 13 and had heard a few of the grown-ups talking about this movie on Mothers Day. He wanted to see it so we bought it on Amazon Prime Video on the ROKU and laughed... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
This is a great family movie, I've seen it before and I'll watch it again.
I would and will recommend it to everyone.
Published 8 days ago by Janna C Burkhardt
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny
Had not watched it in over 20 years! It holds up well. Steve Martin is brilliant! It was good to see it again!
Published 10 days ago by Daniel DeReuter
4.0 out of 5 stars Still Makes Me Laugh Decades Later
The Jerk seems to be a movie that people either love or despise. It was Steve Martin learning to transition his stand up act into a palatable format for films. Read more
Published 21 days ago by William G. McQuaig
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it
We bought this movie so that our boys could see it since it was a favorite of ours in our younger days. Read more
Published 22 days ago by Martha Farmer
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic early Steve Martin
A rags to riches to rags story. One of Steve Martin's early and great little movies. Check it out with the lovely Bernadette Peters!
Published 24 days ago by Mark Vandergaard
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Steve Martin film
Three Amigos is a close second, but the sheer uniqueness of this movie makes it a favorite. Pretty much all the scenes from his "growing up as a poor black child" are... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Colin
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best...
Great movie for those of us who really enjoy stupid humor. This movie, my TV and my DVD player - that's all I need. Watch it and you'll get that joke.
Published 1 month ago by V. Jones
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How about The Jerk on blu-ray?
I would love a Blu-Ray release of The Jerk. If if happens, hopefully they'll re-insert some scenes that they cut out of previous video releases. I haven't seen the cut scenes, but I hear they're funny.
Jan 30, 2012 by meganick |  See all 7 posts
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