There was a Sequel? (part 3)

There was a Sequel? (part 3)



Remember that movie that you saw that one time...it was well written, it had famous stars, and was just a good stand alone movie. It was the talk of the office for a couple weeks. Yeah that's the one. Thinking about it even now almost makes you want to go rent the DVD.



Did you see the sequel?



Yes, they made a sequel. That movie was too popular and made too much money for there not to be a sequel. For some reason, I have always enjoyed watching these horrible attempts at re-creating a pop culture phenomenon. I'm not talking about the high profile sequels like Star Wars, Rocky, Friday the 13th, etc... I'm not talking about movies that have the support of the original creators, writers, directors, and stars. I'm talking about low budget, no name actor, writer refuses to have anything to do with movies.


I'm talking about:

The Jerk Too
 

 

The original is CLASSIC.  There is nothing that I don't love about it.  Steve Martin is the perfect dimwitted fool.  Much like Caddyshack, The Jerk contains quotes that I find applicable all the time.

"The new phone book's here! The new phone book's here!"
"Boy, I wish I could get that excited about nothing."
"Nothing? Are you kidding? Page 73 - Johnson, Navin R.! I'm somebody now! Millions of people look at this book everyday! This is the kind of spontaneous publicity - your name in print - that makes people. I'm in print! Things are going to start happening to me now."

"He hates these cans. Stay away from the cans."

"It was never easy for me. I was born a poor black child."

"You mean I'm gonna STAY this color?"

"Damn these glasses son."

"Yes, sir. I damn thee."

"I'm picking out a Thermos for you. Not an ordinary Thermos for you. But the extra best Thermos that you can buy, with vinyl and stripes and a cup built right in."

The quotes (and more) are so golden that you can practically use them every day.  Of a long list of fantastic 70s and 80s movies that starred Steve Martin, The Jerk is probably my favorite....and that is saying a lot with Planes, Trains, & Automobiles; Three Amigos; Little Shop of Horrors; The Man With Two Brains, and others being in the mix.

The Jerk Too was made in 1984 as made for television movie that I am pretty sure they were trying to use to set up a weekly sitcom.  I tried watching it...twice.  Honestly, I never made it much past the opening credits.  The opening credits were THAT cheesy.  Once again, like Phenomenon II, they decided to retell the same story (or at least have the same character) as the original.  I think when the original is SO well done that this is just not a good idea for a sequel...but I guess starting over with a new character wouldn't maximize profits.  Mark Blankfield, the new Navin, didn't come off as a dim witted but lovable loser...he came off as completely retarded.  It went beyond stupid, beyond idiotic...if he was supposed to be mentally challenged it was a complete slap to the face of anyone who deals with that condition.  It was completely repugnant.

 

You've seen Mark Blankfield before...I know I have, he had bit parts in many, many TV shows and movies.  he might even have been decent in some, but there is no way that he is talented enough to fill Steve Martin's shoes.

 

 

Here is a clip that is on Youtube.  This clip is actually decent compared to the first couple minutes that I remember seeing.

 

 
Once again, the movie is so terrible that it is not even available on DVD in the United States...unlucky viewers in the UK and Europe can find it and use it to build up courage to kill themselves.  I give it a 1 out of 10 stars...and that is only because I didn't actually watch the whole thing.