STEVE! (MARTIN): A DOCUMENTARY IN 2 PIECES -- A Documentary As Unique As Its Subject

Review by Jonathan Berk

​Director Morgan Neville knows how to shape the story of a documentary for maximum impact. Fans of Won't You Be My Neighbor? will remember the emotional impact felt by both the subject and the story's structure. STEVE! (martin): a documentary in 2 pieces brings a similar feeling of admiration and nostalgia for Steve Martin. The two parts of this documentary series could not be more different, as they reflect many aspects of Martin's life and story. 

The first part of the documentary feels very much like a Ken Burns PBS documentary. Tons of photos of Martin's life appear on screen accompanied by voice-over narration by Martin. The tone is often wistful and feels more like the inner monologue Martin has had with himself throughout his life, which we are now privy to. This section focuses on his life until 1980 and the struggles he initially had breaking into show business. Martin's story is impressive and feels both personal and distant in this presentation style as if we're merely observing things.

The second part of the documentary jumps to the modern day as Martin prepares breakfast for himself. This documentary uses a more traditional combination of fly-on-the-wall observation and interviews. The archival footage and photos aren't entirely gone, but now some cartoons of Martin are used to introduce a series of concepts Martin is bothered by. This section still focuses a bit on the career, but it's far more interested in the man behind it all. ​

The second film is far more unique than the first, but together, they reflect a lot of the complexity that is Martin. A magician, comedian, musician, actor, son, husband, father, and collector list just a few aspects of Martin explored in the two-part documentary. Several of these ideas add Martin Short into the film as the two prepare for a tour and promote their hit show Only Murders In the Building. Martin reflects on his life to this point throughout in ways that are again very personal yet distant. 

A significant theme that emerges in both documentaries is this sense of longing, loneliness, and love. These themes appear in the characters he portrays in his movies and his personal life. Some moments in the documentary begin to explore these ideas that seem to hit a wall. This appears intentional as a continued feeling that Martin is willing to share only so much. He is a celebrity and acknowledges and even appreciates the level of admiration he has received. Yet, he is a person and has boundaries in place that he clearly isn't willing to break. 

STEVE! (martin): a documentary in 2 pieces is a very compelling watch. Clocking in at just over 3 hours between the two episodes, it's full of love that is just infectious. Fans of Martin will likely walk away with a renewed passion for him and his work. People who may be less versed in his overall oeuvre may find themselves with the drive to explore his work. At the very least, you'll know more about another celebrity and their influence on culture. ​

STEVE! (martin): a documentary in 2 pieces will be on Apple TV+ on March 29.

Rating: 4/5