Dumb Luck

by Sam Bodette

The movie The Jerk is about a man named Navin Johnson. Navin is adopted. He’s a white man from an all black family. Navin is clumsy, and has no rhythm. At one point Navin is chosen as the target of a crazed gunman. The gunman misses his shot and Navin goes on the run. Navin hides out at a carnival where he meets his lover. Then he meets his love. His love Marie eventually leaves him due to issues with money. Eventually Navin gains a lot of money and Marie comes crawling back to him. Their life becomes a movie. They have parties and go wild. Soon someone sues Navin for all he’s got. Once again Navin is penniless and Marie has left him once again. Luckily for Navin his family picks him up off the ground and give him a home, along with Marie. The movie ends with Navin finally being able to dance. 

This movie characterizes the American Dream as freedom. Navin was able to leave his family and go and have wild adventures and when he fell his family was there to pick him up. The American Dream is going out and taking unexpected turns. Maybe it will end badly, maybe not. The only way to find out is to go and try. When all else fails and you feel as though you have nothing left, you will still always have your family. In the movie, Navin gave his family a small portion of money and eventually it became a lot. This ended up helping him in the end big time. It teaches that you have to be giving because you never know when things will turn around and those people you gave to are now willing to give back to you and help.