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Misery Loves Comedy
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Interesting docu about comedians has tons of swearing.
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Misery Loves Comedy
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What's the Story?
In MISERY LOVES COMEDY, Kevin Pollak interviews more than 60 comedians, comedy writers, and comedy directors about their craft, specifically focusing on the question of where their humor comes from. His main question is whether comedians need to be miserable to be funny. The interview subjects tell various stories and seem to agree on several main points: Many were inspired by their fathers. They love attention. Getting laughs is addictive. Every comedian bombs at some point. And though misery may help certain comedians to be really funny, it's only necessary to have lived life and experienced human emotions to succeed. If a comic can convey truth to an audience, then he or she can get the biggest laughs of all.
Is It Any Good?
Misery Loves Comedy probably isn't as funny as you might expect it to be. While they're being interviewed, the featured comedians are all off duty and aren't there to make jokes. They're there to be honest. The biggest question is how much mainstream audiences will care about what they have to say. How will their innermost psyches and their need to make people laugh translate? Frankly, to enjoy this movie, it will probably help if you're a comedian, an aspiring comedian, or someone who particularly loves comedy.
But casual viewers will find nothing more than a parade of talking heads. The sheer number of them will necessarily give short shrift to certain favorites, some of whom only appear for a minute or two (Mike Birbiglia, sadly, is one of them). Also, the number of interviewees dilutes whatever argument Pollak tries to make. Overall, though, the interviewees' general openness and honesty makes them an appealing bunch -- and worth spending time with.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how comedy seems to have come to the rescue of many people who were suicidal or drug abusers. How do you think could this happen? Why do people often fall back on comedy in times of sadness or other serious emotions?
Being on stage and getting laughs is sometimes equated with using drugs. How do some of the comedians deal with this "addiction"?
How do some of the comedians deal with being rejected, i.e. "bombing" on stage?
How do the comedians answer the question of whether or not they need to be miserable in order to be funny?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 24, 2015
- On DVD or streaming: September 8, 2015
- Cast: Martin Short , Tom Hanks , Jon Favreau , Amy Schumer , Jimmy Fallon
- Director: Kevin Pollak
- Inclusion Information: Female actors
- Studio: Tribeca Productions
- Genre: Documentary
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: June 19, 2023
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