- MARTY: LIFE IS SHORT
- Starring: Martin Short, Steve Martin and Eugene Lelvy
- Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
- Rated: TV-14
- Running time: 1 hr 39 mins
- Amazon Studios
Our score: 5 out of 5
As a generation we have been blessed to have been introduced to some truly wonderful people. People that are not only extremely talented but radiate goodness. One of those people is Martin Short and director Lawrence Kasdan sat down with the important people in Shot’s life to document the man and his life.
My first memory of Martin Short was on the television series “SCTV.” It used to run on PBS every Sunday night when I was growing up and made up an amazing block of television when it was coupled with “Monty Python’s Flying Circus.” It was on “SCTV” that now-legendary characters like Ed Grimley took shape. After leaving the show Short was asked to join “Saturday Night Live,” where he quickly became a star. Films followed. Then Broadway. But despite all of his successes, Short quietly and with dignity had to deal with tragedy. And that is the heart of this film.
Through interviews with family members, and such long time friends as Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, John Mulaney, Paul Shafer and others, we learn that, to Short, his best accomplishment was his family. Through archived interviews with his late wife, Nancy, we learn that the only spotlight Short relishes is that of husband and father. Though not mentioned in the film, Short’s compassion for others shone brightly in 2012 when, not realizing that Nancy had passed away two years earlier, Kathy Lee Gifford asked Short about the strength of his marriage. Rather then embarrass Gifford, Short replied that they were still madly in love!
Sadly, tragedy has once again recently found Short as both his dear friend, Catherine O’Hara and his daughter, Katherine. The film is lovingly dedicated to them both.
On a scale of zero to five, “Marty: Life is Short” receives ★★★★★