REVIEW: ‘Marty, Life Is Short’ Is A Joyful Celebration Of A Life

Marty Life Is Short, directed by Lawrence Kasdan, looks at the life and career of celebrated comedian Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building). Through interviews and home footage, it gives a glimpse into a life devoted to laughter. It follows its ups and downs, as it crafts a wonderfully positive look at the pursuit of performance and showbiz.

The most striking thing about this documentary is the ever-present sense of joy. As the film explores Short’s life, from his childhood to the present day, there is a constant awareness of the opportunities and chances the central figure has had. Through hard work and a bit of luck, we get to follow him through a life that has been filled with unexpected turns and its share of flops. 

Early on in Marty Life Is Short, Martin Short comments that 80% of his career has been failure, and that, in his eyes, is a pretty good average. This comment perfectly establishes his outlook on life. As he and those close to him retell his past, there is that energy and belief that, even when life goes wrong, it just is what it is. You dust yourself off, and you try again.

Marty Life is Short tracks the ups and downs of its subject’s life with infectious enthusiasm. 

The abundance of positivity is refreshing and even intoxicating at times. The smile that many of us have seen on screen or stage for decades shines throughout the film, even in the home footage it utilizes, cementing the authenticity of the emotion behind it. 

Each stage of Short’s life is explored here, with a solid slice of runtime given to each. Numerous familiar faces from film and TV show up to talk about Short, as well as members of his family, when the film dives into his earlier years and more personal moments. Talking heads include names such as Only Murders in the Building co-star Steve Martin, filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, and comedy figures such as John Mulaney and the late Catherine O’Hara. 

Much like the authenticity that radiates from the film’s subject, Marty Life Is Short captures the same genuine enthusiasm from its various interviewees. It doesn’t just feel as if they’re here to speak the truth. They also seem thrilled to get the chance to. 

Martin Short offers an inspiring outlook on life.  

The single greatest achievement the documentary crafts is when the story turns to less happy times. The passing of Short’s parents when he was young and, later, the loss of his wife are treated uniquely. While there is obvious sorrow for the loss of loved ones, it still feels like there is a refusal to let sadness dampen the joy those individuals brought and cultivated in their time with him. It is an active choice to celebrate who they were and what they meant to him, rather than mourn their loss too heavily.

The only place where Marty, Life Is Short falters is in its sequencing. There are a couple of random jumps during the film that feel misplaced. It is as if they couldn’t figure out a natural way to transition to a point, so they just did a fade and stuck it in. While these awkward transitions momentarily distract, the energy of the film and the warmth of its star quickly pull things back on track.

Marty Life Is Short is a winsome celebration of a joyful individual. Martin Short’s unwillingness to see life as anything short of a blessing, even when dealing with sadder moments, gives the documentary an uplifting energy from start to finish. A truly wonderful experience.

Marty, Life Is Short is streaming now on Netflix.