Renowned director Morgan Neville travels the career path of Steve Martin, an individual who charted his own unconventional course transcending categories, in his latest Apple TV+ documentary, “Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in Two Pieces.” The narrative moves from Martin's early life, blending his nostalgic sense of humor with a groundbreaking comedic style, his journey to become a writer, movie star, author, playwright, and present-day TV icon. The documentary attempts to sketch Martin's dynamics, refusing to fit into a typical mold, through two uniquely narrated halves.
The first half employs traditional documentary techniques, leveraging archives, photographs, audio clips of Martin and his acquaintances, tracing back to his childhood and rise to fame. The documentary traces Martin's unique approach to humor, his defiance against the serious tone of pop culture during the Vietnam era, and his transition from comedy to other facets of entertainment. It also uncovers how Martin ingeniously fused intellectual depth and goofiness in his work, ceaselessly playing with traditional comedy structures.
The second half titled, "Now," effectively contrasts the first, introducing Martin in a more casual setting in his kitchen, engaging in a free-spirited chat and downright mocking the ongoing documentary. This portion dives into the past four decades of Martin's life through conversations with his friends and colleagues like Jerry Seinfeld, Tina Fey, and Martin Short. It illustrates Martin's friendships, collaborations, his progress with a cartoon book about his career, while also giving a sneak peek into his relaxed, everyday life.
Nevertheless, the vastness and diversity of Martin's career, spread over decades, left the documentary unable to give due justice to all his works, leaving out specifics which might disappoint some fans. The documentary also attempts to unlock Martin's life through his work, using themes from his projects as keys to his personality and life experiences.
Exploring the charismatic multifaceted persona of Steve Martin, the documentary unveils the man behind the comedy, movie star, writer, and a late-blooming father. Spanning into two distinctly narrated segments, the film concludes how it could have easily gone into further parts, merely scratching the surface of Steve Martin's life.
The documentary is slated to air on Apple TV+ on March 29th.
