Steve Martin's The Jerk is willfully, ruthlessly stupid. It's the apogee and nadir of dumb, and so it is in perfect balance as a comedy that can be anything to anyone. Martin plays Navin Johnson, a rhythmically impaired white man raised by black sharecroppers -- and this inability to dance is the least of his problems. Navin is both naive and dumb, but he's got a good heart. He leaves the farm to come to the big city (cameo appearance by St. Louis), where a madman attempts to kill him (St. Louis as method actor!). Navin eventually discovers sex, then love, then heartbreak and wealth and poverty all over again, without learning a single thing. Martin is perfect in the role, and Bernadette Peters is as wonderful as ever as his love interest, Marie. Come see the best stupid flick of all time at Strange Brew tonight 8 p.m. at the Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood; 314-241-2337 or www.schlafly.com). Admission is $5.
Wed., July 3, 2013
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