Misery Loves Comedy

It is a lot of comedy podcasts now - they talk about the same topics and themes and in that case, you enjoy listening to the host, or the guest - telling you why they do comedy.

Now his - all you have is highlights of various guests on a podcast telling you all facets of being a comedian - basically on a podcast, where you don't hear the part of the host asking the question.

I watched this back in the day - I enjoyed it then without my current knowledge. Now I know - I don't want to know a movie stars cut up podcast - if I am interested in them, I want it all - Then there is short form media now, which I am not a fan - clips of this could be good for them.

These days you watch a 5 hour podcast or a 15second clip - this is a bad version of both of those.

I'm glad previous reviewers have seen fit to mention the comedians who were unjustly missing from this film.

To that, I'll just add: Only about 10% of the subjects in the film are women.

Did the producers even try to interview more female comedians?

Surely (Shirley?) there is a female perspective on the main focus of this film that is almost entirely missing.

Where are:

Tig Notaro?

Lilly Tomlin?

Jane Curtin?

Carol Burnett?

Just to name a few ...

I was excited to watch this documentary since the topic seemed promising and fun. However, the overwhelming imbalance between male and female comedians interviewed was so distracting that I couldn't finish it. It almost feels like the filmmakers believe women aren't funny, as they overlooked so many well-known and hilarious female comedians. If you're someone who believes that women aren't funny (or only a select few are) this documentary might appeal to you.

It's disappointing because, with more diversity, this could have been an excellent film. There were some genuinely entertaining moments, but the lack of representation just completely overshadowed them.

Misery Loves Comedy (2015)

*** (out of 4)

Director Kevin Pollak, also a comedian, directs this documentary that gathers a large number of comedians and asks them various questions about the profession. This includes what their parents thought of their career choice, the "hey look at me disease," the drug of being on stage and if one needs to be mentally messed up in order to be good at their job.

Jason Alexander, Amy Schumer, Sam Rockwell, Jon Favreau, Preddie Prinze, Jr., Kevin Smith, Matthew Perry, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Lewis Black, Martin Short, David Koechner, Bob Saget, Larry David, Kevin Nealon, Richard Lewis, Andy Richter and Jim Norton are just a few of the comedians who are interviewed here.

For the most part this is an entertaining documentary and especially when you consider they've got so many well-known comics including many in the current mainstream. Even Tom Hanks is interviewed here and shares a couple funny stories. The highlights of the film are actually the moments with Freddie Prinze, Jr. who talks about following in the footsteps of a very famous father who was also notorious on how his life ended. You really get to see a different side to Prinze and someone those familiar with his movie roles won't recognize.

Indeed, this was a poor display of good comedians with the exception of Whoopi, Tom, Larry, and one or two others. I find this docu-mockery an exclusion of great comedians and shameful. I didn't care for it. The late great Richard Pryor was mentioned in a story about assault/womanizing in a flippant way. I still don't know why freddie prinze jr (why was he even in the damn thing?) told the story about Pryor -- it only felt like he wanted to uplift his father's memory and downgrade Pryor's as the comedian who got his ass kicked. It just wasn't funny!

I agree with other disappointed commenters that the lack of diversity/minority is apparent and terrible. And, to add insult to injury, Amy Schumer who I think is the least funny person was included to tell a story about her narcissism. News flash Amy! We already knew that most actors/comedians are narcissistic -- otherwise they wouldn't have made it on their mediocre talents like you and that Jennifer law-whats her face.

I love a good laugh but this docu-mockery of comedians was more misery with less comedy. You were warned.