Annette Fagon is 28 years old and has decided to try to launch a stand up career, having been inspired by a tape of an old Richard Pryor live on stage. With her debut booked for Birmingham's Glee Club, Annette seeks advice from others with experience on the stand up circuit. Meanwhile, the big night approaches.
For the Screen West Midlands funding stream "First Cut", 2004 was the year of the documentary and, yet again I held some vague aspiration to actually put my money where my mouth was and take part, however I never managed to get around to it! Seeing the end products, I'm not sure I would have had anything to really make a film about because the films are mostly pretty personal pieces. Anonymous Humorous takes an interesting but brief look at stand up humour through the attempt of Fagon to break into the industry via Birmingham's own Glee Club (a venue that is good for all levels). The film is OK and interesting enough but it doesn't manage to have enough to it to really engage me and stay in my mind.
In fairness this may be down to the limits of the running time rather than being a failing but it could have done more. The comedians talking about the job only kick out general comments where really they could have been more interesting and more specific, however Fagon herself is interesting. It is a shame that the film never gets to actually know her beyond the superficial level, nor does it let us see her show very much I wondered if the makers couldn't decide whether to focus close on her or make this a wider piece with her as the way in; it seems they tried to do both instead.
Overall this is an enjoyable film but mainly because of the characters involved and the general energy to it but it does struggle because it is rather general and doesn't have a sharp edge anywhere in its running time. As good as the majority of the First Cut films then but not interesting, sharp or insightful enough to really do the job I'm afraid.