Steve!

2 part documentary looking at the life and career of Steve Martin. The first part, made up of classic footage narrated by Martin and friends, looks at his youth and aspirations and how, despite many challenges, he eventually became the biggest comedian on the planet showcasing his unique brand of comedy. The second half is up to date and spent mostly in the company of the man himself going about his work and life business looking back and analysing his successes and failures.

Clearly a man who now more or less seems at ease with himself, he had clearly been through a great deal of introspection over the years and had suffered from panic attacks, a huge talent's typically bumpy ride with his father and bouts of loneliness and self doubt. His stand up routines and many films were not always well received and he frequently acknowledges this, chuckling it away - you sense though that this does nevertheless niggle him. He has many friends it would seem who all like him a lot, but frequently don't really get him and his private, hidden and possibly fragile persona, with the possible exception of Martin Short who Martin clearly adores and vice versa. A fascinating documentary then, culminating in a man happily married, with a child he had late in life who he loves to bits, stacks of cash and a hit tv show - and yet you feel he still feels there is something amiss. Amusing, in depth and ultimately a bit sad somehow.

The early statements in this fawning documentary that he was the only comic in the 70s breaking new ground and the most important comic is pathetic. Richard Pryor and George Carlin were comedic geniuses. For all his faults which came to light later, at that time Bill Cosby was huge and important in the comedy scene. And Gabe Kaplan. This documentary is boring and sadly lacks true context. Steve Martin's clownish act in the 70s and early 80s does not stand the test of time and he comes off as a novelty act in episode 1. They somehow make the very funny movie "The Jerk" into a bland footnote. Very disappointing documentary.

This doco is like Steve's comedy. It's a beautiful, fascinating story about how Steve became who he is today. I'm amazed by his struggles as a performer in the early days and how resilient he was to continue on. Above all, I appreciate how wholesome and uplifting this was... a little like Steve's humour. He doesn't need to dive in to dark places, insult people or get too political. Neither does this doco. I would only recommend this to those who are Steve Martin fans, would like a bit of nostalgia and an insight into who he is. Watching this brought back those feelings of simpler times. I miss those days.

Being deliberately unfunny hoping to get laughs seems a doomed strategy for a standup comedian but eventually it worked for Steve Martin. The first comedian to fill arenas he then went on to a very successful movie career endearing audiences with his everyman persona. The second part of this two-episode series takes us inside Martin's private life to some extent, though he is understandably protective of his family. His relationship with his cold and distant father, for whom he never seemed to be good enough, explains much of the sad clown he became. A bachelor for most of his career, Martin became a father only late in life. We are taken inside his writing collaboration with Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building as well as his fascination for art collecting and banjo playing. Steve Martin is a wild and crazy (but also loveable) guy and this documentary is an excellent record of his achievements and a tribute to the perseverance of his artistry.

Like other reviewers, I'm curious to know why the documentary was made in two pieces, other than the fact that it would be very long to watch in one sitting. In my case, viewing the documentary over two days, it definitely showed how Steve's life has changed over the years, certainly for the better. In that way, it's a very hopeful piece, one that proves how it's possible for someone to become more comfortable with who they are, more likeable, more relatable, etc. After seeing how much Steve struggled in the first half of his life, it's very heartwarming to see how much joy his entire life brings him today. Yes, the documentary is long and there are certainly parts that could have been trimmed but, like a lot of Apple TV+ programs, it feels like time well-spent when the final credits roll. Steve! Is an interesting study of a fascinating human being and certainly worth watching.