I get about eight hundred food cravings every day. I am constantly in the mood to eat something that I don’t have access to, whether it’s In N Out, cake, or a bag of SunChips. And in the same way that I get these food cravings, I also crave certain movies or TV shows. Most often, what I’m really in the mood for is a project involving a specific actor or creator.
Think about it: people are always in the mood for one genre or another, whether it’s a summertime comedy, a spring rom-com, or a cold, winter thriller. Actors and creators are no different! Every great artist displays their voice on the projects they work on, and, more often than not, it changes the overall mood of their work. Sometimes, certain creators sound more palatable than others.
The most prominent example I can think of is Steve Martin. This may not be true for many, but there are days (usually when I’m tired and the weather is a little gloomy), when all I want to do is stay home and watch a Steve Martin movie. Steve has a way about him that changes the mood of any movie or show that he is in. I have taken to calling this The Martin Effect.
There are three main elements that make up The Martin Effect: humor, style, and theme. While he is a great actor that has participated in a wide variety of projects over the years, all of these movies and shows are united in some way by Steve’s presence.
Let’s start with his sense of humor. Steve began his career as a comedy writer and standup comedian. He is known for being a clean and wholesome comedian. This translates over to his movies, as well. When he curses, it doesn’t feel like cursing, and his jokes are never vulgar or uncomfortable. His characters always seem a little neurotic, and need to learn to be a better person, but his characters are never presented as bad people or particularly mean. This neurotic wholesomeness is funny enough to give the audience a good time, but still nice enough to watch on a sick day. I find great comfort in his movies.
All the actors that he surrounds himself with are also fairly wholesome. Between Martin Short, John Candy, Meryl Streep, and all of the kids from Cheaper by the Dozen, his co-stars typically don’t add a contrast of violence or vulgarity. He also tends to stick with a cast of characters that are good at heart, but hilariously flawed in some way or another, which has become a key element in his films. Overall, the human element of Steve Martin’s movies is consistent and brings heart to all of his work.
The style of The Martin Effect makes its projects great to watch on a sick day. His biggest hits make me think of light, muted colors and a generally bright atmosphere. Most of his well-known movies are from the 80s and 90s, so I tend to think of his work with the grainy texture of film from that era. His characters’ styles are rather timeless, mostly because the clothing is rather muted, as well. For instance, The Father of the Bride movies are products of the 90s, but the 90s style is fairly toned down to simple blouses and button-up shirts. Nothing particularly stands out. I would say the style of Steve Martin’s movies is mild and light, but in a great way! It makes them extraordinarily comforting.
All of Steve Martin’s work also has a similar theme. Almost all of his characters’ journeys are about becoming a better, more accepting person. There are always kind-hearted messages in his films that appeal to me most when I’m feeling down. Along with the comforting tone and wholesome humor, this makes for a relaxing and cheery set of films. I always finish a Steve Martin movie feeling happier than when I began it.
The ability that Steve has, to be able to turn any project he touches into a Steve Martin project, is one that we see in many icons. However, his own unique spin is one that I enjoy talking about more than others. There are few movies that feel as much like a warm blanket as Steve Martin’s do. The fact that he achieves this constantly, sometimes simply by being in the room, is a triumph most creators wish to accomplish.
To sum up a lot of his work, here are some stats:
Keywords: kind, neurotic, light, mild
My favorites: Father of the Bride (1991), Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987), Saturday Night Live (1975-), It’s Complicated (2009), The Pink Panther (2006), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), Only Murders in the Building (2021-)
Similar actors: Martin Short, John Candy, Meryl Streep, Tim Allen, Chevy Chase, Jamie Lee Curtis
Bestie you are so right!!!