Synopsis: Marty, Life is Short, from director Lawrence Kasdan, is the definitive documentary on beloved comedian Martin Short. Using beautiful, intimate, never-before-seen archive footage alongside exclusive interviews with some of the most established and beloved stars, the documentary takes a look at one of the most influential comedians of a generation.
Review: Over the last few years, we have gotten several documentaries about great comedic actors. From John Candy to Mel Brooks, we have seen many documentaries about some of the biggest stars of the last forty years, but three in particular stand out for fans of the 1980s. Starting with Steve Martin’s two-part documentary for Apple and CNN’s I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not, just a few months ago, the trifecta is now complete with the remaining member of the Three Amigos getting his showcase. Marty, Life Is Short takes a look at the life and legacy of the SCTV and Only Murders In The Building actor, from his childhood through his unexpected rise to fame, and the heartbreak he experienced along the way. Full of never-before-seen home movies and interviews with his friends and contemporaries, Marty, Life Is Short is a touching look at the life of someone who is very different off-camera than he is on screen, yet is as beloved by friends and family as he is by his fans.
Marty, Life Is Short follows the trajectory of Martin Short’s career from his days as a Pre-Med college student to his first stint performing on SCTV, thenSaturday Night Live, and finally in big-screen projects like The Three Amigos. It is interesting to note that Martin Short was never a phenomenal box office draw nor a critical one, but his friendliness and genuine connection to those in his orbit, including Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Kurt Russell, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, and more, added so much to his family and their lives. The film includes interviews with Short’s siblings, nieces, and nephews, and more, who have nothing but the nicest things to say about him. Clips of Short in character as Jiminy Glick show his improvisation skills, as well as scenes from cult classics like Innerspace and Clifford, which offset his more famous turns in Father of the Bride and Only Murders in the Building. Short’s first foray on Broadway features in the documentary as well.
The most interesting aspect of Marty, Life Is Short, is just how impactful the actor and comedian became despite a lifetime of loss. Losing his older brother in a car accident when Martin was 12, followed by the deaths of his parents, the formative grief that fueled his sense of humor is central to who Short is as a human being. A big focus of the documentary is the lifelong romance Martin Short shared with Nancy Dolman, whom he was married to for thirty years until her untimely death from cancer in 2010. Martin and Nancy’s marriage served as a benchmark for their friends, who saw them as the epitome of love, which they shared with their children. Nancy’s death, along with those of his immediate family, never detracts from Short’s zeal for life. The recent passing of Short’s daughter, Katherine, is not addressed in the documentary, but there is a brief tribute to her and to Catherine O’Hara at the end of the film.
The bulk of the documentary uses family movies filmed by Short himself. Most of these show the family home in Snug Harbour, Ontario, where the family would invite friends to parties and events. Through these movies, we see a who’s who of famous people, including Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Paul Shaffer, and Sally Field. Seeing some of the most famous actors and comedians you could think of just hanging around, swimming, grilling, and having a good time is deeply humanizing and a touching tribute to how wide a network of loved ones surrounded Short and his family. Martin Short is also seen throughout the film, in archive footage of interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from Only Murders In The Building, while those who idolize and work with him, like John Mulaney, Andrea Martin, and Nancy Meyers, share their perspective on why Martin Short is such a lasting figure in Hollywood and comedy.
This is not remotely an unbiased documentary about Martin Short. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, best known for writing The Empire Strikes Back and for directing Short in the 1987 movie Cross My Heart, this documentary feels like a love letter from a friend. Kasdan features prominently in several home movies, as his multi-decade friendship with Short allowed the actor and filmmaker to feel at ease making this documentary and facilitated the use of so many home movies. Short remains emotionally steady throughout the documentary’s interviews, while we see everyone else struggling with Nancy’s death, including Steve Martin. The frankness with which everyone talks about Martin as a person and a performer is impressive, and this documentary offers very little to lend credence to the actor’s run of critical and commercial failures. But, it does hone in on how successful he has become over the last ten to twenty years as his stage work, tour with Steve Martin, and critical acclaim in his small screen work, including dramatic turns in The Morning Show and Damages, show the actor doing what he loves regardless of what the critics say.
Marty, Life Is Short is not an unbiased exposé of Martin Short, nor should it be. An actor who has never courted controversy and has been a beloved celebrity for decades, this is a movie that serves as a treat for fans, showing what a normal person Martin Short is and how much he means to everyone he comes into contact with. Marty, Life Is Short made me want to revisit films and work from the actor’s extensive filmography, but mostly left me with a smile on my face. Martin Short is exactly who you hoped he would be, and his success over the years could not be more deserved. Marty, Life Is Short is a worthy tribute to the man whom I hope has many more years ahead of him, and hopefully filled with no more grief, as this documentary shows he has endured far more than he deserves. A great and positive love letter, I must say.
Marty, Life Is Short is now streaming on Netflix.