THE STORY – The definitive documentary on comedian Martin Short, exploring his career across film, television, theater, and comedy.
THE CAST – Martin Short, Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Steve Martin, John Mulaney, Conan O’Brien, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Shaffer, Steven Spielberg, & Rita Wilson
THE TEAM – Lawrence Kasdan (Director)
THE RUNNING TIME – 99 Minutes
Emmy-winning Canadian comedian Martin Short is arguably one of the most likeable people in Hollywood. Known for his work on “SCTV,” “Saturday Night Live,” and more recently, “Only Murders in the Building,” Short has long been a reliable member of any ensemble, especially when playing such quirky, iconic characters as Ed Grimley. The writer, actor, and singer is beloved by many, possessing a unique sense of humor–but there’s a darkness to his personal life. For those uninitiated to the tragedies Short has experienced in his 76 years on this Earth, Lawrence Kasdan’s “Marty, Life is Short” shows how he lost his brother and both parents by the time he was 21. Then, the love of his life, Nancy, a talent in her own right, passed away from cancer in 2010. However, this was likely filmed before the death of his daughter, Katherine, in February of this year.
Kasdan is somewhat of a legend himself, having received four Oscar nominations (previous credits include “The Accidental Tourist” and “The Big Chill”), so his pairing with Short makes sense. “Marty” is not necessarily cinematic, but clearly, Kasdan’s long time in Hollywood has granted him access to interviews with and footage of numerous A-list stars. There are many talking heads, which can be a detriment in other documentaries, but for one featuring someone so well-known and well-liked as Short, this is to be expected. These interviews are interspersed with ample footage of his work in theatre, film, and TV, including talk show appearances. It’s a reminder of how absurdly funny he has been for decades, often a scene-stealer when not one of the main stars of a show or movie. We’re also gifted intimate footage from Short himself, giving us a glimpse into the personal life of a generally private individual (who has no social media).
Kasdan seemingly focuses on interviewing Short’s fellow Canadians, who occasionally appear next to him. It’s particularly sad to see the late Catherine O’Hara, who’s given enough screentime to make us miss her even more. Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin are two others who have become close to him over the years, the latter especially since she and Short became related through marriage. He isn’t exactly shown to be perfect, but much of what is shown sings his praises, with his long-time friend and collaborator Steve Martin saying that you should cancel your party if “Marty” (as many affectionately call him) can’t come. His friends and colleagues do admit that he’s a “weird” person, but this is depicted as a compliment and an asset, as opposed to a detriment.
In his one-on-ones with Kasdan, Short is candid without going into too much detail on his personal life. It’s clear that the quirky characters he often plays are a far cry from the grounded, personable individual he is in real life, but as he says in the film, he still ensures that even the most absurd characters and situations are grounded in some form of reality. His career trajectory is certainly interesting to watch, even if you are familiar with it, especially when he’s honest about an emotional breakdown early on in his career. He’s not shy about admitting he didn’t know what he was doing or where he wanted his career to go, and there were periods without work that worried him about his future in the industry. Fortunately, as we all know, he has done quite well.
How he met his wife Nancy, and their love story, is so touching and romantic–making her loss even more devastating. And when the couple realized that they couldn’t have biological children, they adopted three, and the family clearly had a beautiful life together, as we see in Short’s home videos.
