The Jerk (1979)

7.1

Plot: Of all days, the guileless Mississippi boy, Navin Johnson, discovers that he's not the natural-born child of an impecunious African-American family, on his birthday. Unable to cope with the shocking revelation, Navin, driven by a melodious tune on the radio, summons up the courage to go beyond the edge of the fence, see the world, and be somebody. As a result, his first stop in St. Louis will pave the way for remarkable achievements, tardy recognition, and of course, love; however, sometimes, the gap between success and failure can be very narrow. Will Navin ever find his place in the world?

Alternative Plot: Navin (Steve Martin) believes he was born a poor black child in Mississippi. He is, however, actually white. Upon figuring this out, he heads north to St. Louis to find himself. After landing a job at a gas station, Navin is excited to discover his name printed in the new phone book. This ratification of his existence leads him from one misadventure to another -- as he invents gadgets, dodges bullets, joins the carnival and seeks love in the arms of beautiful Marie (Bernadette Peters).

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