It’s all fluff, but Martin, Chase, and Short elevate the material to something akin to art. Their journey leads them on a series of madcap adventures where they encounter everything from a mythical singing bush to an invisible swordsman. Still, if you warm to the goofy antics, there’s plenty of side-splitting hilarity to enjoy in this wild and zany epic.ĭirected by John Landis, Three Amigos! follows a trio of silent movie stars who, after a series of miscommunications, get caught up in a real-world situation that pits them against a dangerous Mexican gang. Three Amigos! may only be remembered as a minor comedy classic featuring the blockbuster combo of Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short. One of Martin’s best and funniest films to date. Think Joe Versus the Volcano, albeit coated with an extra dose of dry satire. Harris skates through life (literally) and eventually bumps into a freeway sign that begins instructing him on all things life and love. Telemacher, Martin veers sharply from the wild and crazy persona he developed early in his career without mincing on laughs. Martin’s screenplay pokes fun at everything LA, from its gridlocked (and violent) freeways, high-priced dining (replete with various flavors of floss), pretentious inhabitants, bizarre social structures, and everlasting magic.Īs world-weary meteorologist Harris K. Here we have a hilarious and thought-provoking film that is both cynical and hopeful grounded and whimsical. Story, Martin’s offbeat love letter to Los Angeles. Is he quirky? Colorful? Silly? Clever? Sharp? Sophisticated? All of the above? These adjectives can apply to the brilliant L.A. Story (1991)ĭescribing Steve Martin’s brand of humor presents a difficult challenge. Yes, this list was hard to put together, as Martin’s resume features an abundance of great comedic material, but I did my best.

So, I’ve assembled five essential movies featuring the legendary star demonstrating his comic brilliance.

Many of you youngsters may not be hip to Martin’s jam. Indeed, Martin has remained a powerful force in Hollywood for over four decades, which is really hard to do.

At the ripe age of 77, he’s still creating quality content such as Hulu’s terrific Only Murders in the Building (alongside his pal Martin Short) and the Netflix special An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life (also with Short). He’s an actor, writer, producer, stand-up comedian, and musician - an artistic genius. I’ve long admired the man for his wit, charm, and incredible talents. Iconic Roles is a look at some of the best performances in film and television by actors and actresses.

Early steve martin stand up