The Jerk

The result remains the funniest film of Martin’s career: a rags-to-riches riot of visual gags, oddball wit and, of course, outrageous silliness.

The verbal and conceptual gags... belong wholly to Martin's own brand of goofiness, and some of them are pretty funny.

Within ts limitations, The Jerk is a capably produced entertainment, seasoned by deft bit performances from several actors...

Its humor is successful and unsuccessful by turns, and although Comedian Carl Reiner is the director, the instinct here is to give most of both credit and blame to Martin.

An artless, non-stop barrage of off-the-wall situations, funny and unfunny jokes, generally effective and sometimes hilarious sight gags and bawdy non sequiturs.

The comedy runs out of steam when the jerk makes good, but laugh for laugh it's probably a better investment than 10.

The Jerk is uneven with a capital U.

…doesn’t tick the boxes required of a rounded drama, but it’s hard to complain when so many gags land…

Every scene offers something funny; every scene subverts expectations.

With comedy legend Carl Reiner directing and unforgettable supporting roles from Jackie Mason and Bernadette Peters, the result is an incredible mix of barbed satire, silly pratfalls, and, at its core, sweetness.