Which Quote Do I Use?

This truly comical classic of the 70's (just barely: 1979) still brings tears to my eyes. Good tears, of course. The kind that come as a result of belly-aching laughter and constant smiling. There aren't many movies that deliver this relatively constant stream of exuberant laughter and when you find one, you've found yourself a classic.

Navin R. Johnson has just experienced some pretty big life changing experiences. You see, it's his birthday, and after a special birthday treat including a Twinkie and a Tab he starts "feeling different". It seems he experiences this vague sense of not belonging every once in a while, and through the emotion of receiving a Zippo for his birthday he gets to feeling different once again. It's at this time that his mama explains that "Navin, you're not our natural born child..."

In any other movie, you may find yourself rather touched by this revelation. Considering Navin (Steve Martin) is living in the very Deep South with his all black family, you are instead brought to laughter at Martin's wonderful portrayal of a rather slow man with the logic of a very backwards child. His shock and disbelief over the very idea that he is adopted sets this adventure in motion.

From here Navin decides he wants to go out and "be somebody". His very wise father gives him three bits of advice before he embarks on a hitch-hiking adventure:

"Sh*t, Shinola (in other words, you need to be able to tell the difference)
Don't trust Whitey
See a doctor and get rid of it"

It is with these words of wisdom that Navin embarks on a career, beginning with a job at a gas station where he thrills at the idea of having his name in the phone book. To a run-in with a can-hating sniper.

Somewhere along the way he assists his foul-mouthed boss with keeping his glasses in place and hitches up with a circus. Bernadette Peters enters the scene and Navin is officially in love. Navin continues to experience life in fast-forward, going from rags to riches to rags again, all while maintaining his lovable trusting nature and simplistic view of things we take for granted.

He loses the girl and gets her back, loses his fortune and gets that back too, and in the end he returns to his roots singin' gospel tunes with the only family he has ever known.

Beyond the story, however, you have a cult-like legion of fans who have memorized every off-beat, funny line compacted into this rather fast moving movie. A few bumpy moments excepted, Martin keeps up the comedy with memorable lines and a good dose of physical comedy (which you'll gradually miss in future Martin movies). Bernadette Peters plays an interesting love match, maintaining her cutesy little voice almost to the point of irritation.

Watch this one when you want to laugh, without the political correctness of this century, and perhaps even when needing to be reminded of how the simple things in life often bring the most happiness. For if someone can find picking out a thermos to be worthy of song, certainly doing the laundry or washing the car can't be half bad.