The Jerk (1979)
1 question
Directed by: Carl Reiner
Starring: Steve Martin, Bernadette Peters, Mabel King, Catlin Adams
Revealing mistake: When Bernadette Peters throws a knife at Steve Martin, it never leaves her hand. (01:18:05)
More quotes from The Jerk
Trivia: The Cat Juggler, in the film, was Steve Martin. (01:12:40 - 01:13:30)





Answer: Navin self-applies the "Jerk" epithet early in the film, using it not in the sense of someone obnoxious or mean (as it is used in most cases), but in the sense of a stupid person. He's saying he blames himself and his lack of intelligence (though, as you say, it is usually simple naïveté) for ending up where he is (broke, homeless).