Before graduating from college (he eventually did), Marty moved to Toronto to try his hand at acting and eventually was cast in a production of "Godspell" where he worked with Victor Garber, Gilda Radner, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara and Paul Shaffer, who would all play significant roles in Marty's career, and many of whom, along with Marty, would eventually become a part of Toronto's version of Second City, then the Canadian sketch comedy show SCTV and eventually "Saturday Night Live." The rest is comedy history.
Marty also met his soon-to-be wife, Nancy, during that production of "Godspell," and some might say she was the biggest influence on his life and her presence is felt through this film.
This is an intimate look at Martin Short's life and career. Home movies and some of Marty's best comedy bits abound as well as interviews with his fellow comedians, including the late Catherine O'Hara, who was a significant influence on Marty (the documentary is dedicated to her) and Steve Martin, who has a special bond with Marty and, can I say, doesn't look a bit different from how he looked 30 years ago?!
Marty didn't want to do this documentary, but his good friend, director Lawrence Kasdan ("The Big Chill," "Body Heat"), wanted to do it and direct it, so Marty relented, and I am so glad he did because this is not just about the facts of Marty's life and his many character and comedy moments, it is a highly inspirational journey that you don't want to miss. It's a joyful journey. Despite the many tragedies in Marty's life, he chose to focus on joy.
Rosy the Reviewer says...this is not your dry facts of a life documentary. This is an intimate, poignant and inspirational look inside the life and career of, not just a wonderful comedian, but a wonderful husband, father and overall good guy. It was so inspirational and joyful, in fact, that, I must sayyy, I cried a little. And I must sayyy, it's a must see film! (Netflix)
The Crash (2026)
A seventeen-year-old crashes her car into a brick wall at 100 miles per hour, killing her boyfriend and his friend. Was it an accident or murder?
On July 31, 2022 Mackenzie Shirilla crashed her vehicle into a brick wall in Strongsville, Ohio, killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo and their friend, Davion Flanagan. Shirilla was a wannabe TikTok influencer, and she and her boyfriend, Dominic, lived together at his parents' house. They had been together since he was 16 and she was 13. Davion was a student athlete and part of their large friend group.
Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead at the scene while Mackenzie was taken to the hospital seriously injured. The police initially thought the crash was an accident but an examination of the vehicle deemed it in good working condition and the onboard computer system indicated the accelerator was being pressed at the time of the crash. And it didn't help that the couple had frequent conflicts with Shirilla dominating and threatening Dominic whenever he tried to break up with her. So Shirilla was arrested and tried for murder. And Shirilla doesn't come off well in home movies and social media as she struts around, smokes weed and flips off the camera, but does that make her a murderer?
Though Shirilla was convicted of murder and is currently serving time at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, she has vehemently denied that she murdered her friends, that she does not remember that night and there is a bit of a twist regarding her lack of memory. Her parents and other supporters are also vehement that it was an accident.
Directed by Gareth Johnson, this documentary shows footage of the grizzly crash, covers her trial and interviews Shirilla in prison as well as family, friends, supporters and doubters, and leaves it up to the viewer as to whether or not justice was served in this case.
Rosy the Reviwer says...accident ot murder? You decide. (Netflix)
Man on the Run (2025)
What's a Beatle to do when he is no longer a Beatle? Well, he reinvents himself.
Contrary to popular opinion, according to Paul, he wasn't the one who broke up The Beatles. It was John! However, if you are a hard-core Beatlemaniac, there might not be any real revelations here, but this is an engaging retelling of rock and roll history as Sir Paul himself recounts trying to reimagine his life as an ex-Beatle and coming up with the idea of Wings and what happened after.
After the Beatles broke up, Paul worried that he wouldn't be able to write again, and according to him, he got into Scotch and drinking too much. But then along came Linda, who Paul attributes to saving him. I think Linda always got a bad rap. She was criticized for being American, for being in the band (Paul wanted her there), she couldn't sing, she couldn't play an instrument, yada, yada, yada...but think about it. She gave up her career as a photographer, lived on a remote farm in Scotland, had four kids and went on the road with Paul, so I am thinking she was probably one of the best things that ever happened to Paul and to his credit, he gives her credit.
Putting Wings together was not easy. Paul likens it to the movie "Spinal Tap." When he was interviewed by the press he was asked- "Are you too old for rock and roll?" Paul was 33. But he was not deterred. In fact, Paul was the ultimate performer and unleashed himself in Wings. And then Wings played their last concert December 29, 1979 and Paul had to reinvent himself again. And he did...as Paul McCartney. His solo career began and the rest is rock history.
The film was directed by Morgan Neville, and McCartney fans will eat up the ’70s home videos, unseen archival footage, performances, and off-camera interviews with family and band members, plus some insightful voiceovers from Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jagger and Sean Ono Lennon (Paul and John made up before John's death), but it's the insights from Paul himself that are intimate and fascinating.
Rosy the Reviewer says...as a young girl, I thought I was going to marry Paul. I learned so did every other young girl, including Oprah. So, yes, I ate this up and so will you. (Amazon Prime)
See You Next Time!
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