Review for Misery Loves Comedy

Misery Loves Comedy is a documentary that looks at what makes someone take to a stage and tell jokes. This film speaks to many comedians known for their stand-up comedy and asks them why they do it, who influenced them and what does it take to tell a joke? It also asks the question: Do you have to be miserable to be funny?

Many people are interviewed, some you will recognise such as Tom Hanks, Steve Coogan, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Schumer, Larry David and some you may only know the name, but maybe not the face such as Judd Apatow, director of Knocked Up. There is no one who is interviewed that is boring or doesn't have an entertaining story to tell and this weaves together a great documentary by Kevin Pollak, who some may only recognise from his work in front of the camera in The Usual Suspects, but it is a fascinating and well made documentary.

What I loved about this documentary is that the interviews feel more like a How To Do Stand-up Guide and anyone who wants to go into this profession or maybe is, but hasn't got to the next level may want to watch this documentary. There is a discussion in how to tell a joke, how to deal with bombing (with the assurance that everyone bombs at some point) and just how to become a comic in the first place.

The documentary is fantastic with none of the subjects interviewed boring or skippable. What I liked about this is that even the people I didn't know were entertaining and made me want to go seek them out. I now have almost thirty stand-up shows in my watch list thanks to this documentary.

However, one of the things that is missing from this documentary is example footage. They would show legends like Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce and George Carlin, but there is no footage of them, or anyone else for that matter. It is easy to say that George Carlin was one of the greatest of all time (and he was), but if you don't know who he is and you don't show any examples then they may as well be talking about anyone.

That being said, it still works and maybe with a bit of archive footage it would have been better, but no doubt that would have increased the length or forced to cut some of the wonderful interviews in editing.

Misery Loves Comedy is a wonderful documentary and one that everyone who loves stand-up comedy or just comedy in general should watch. I found the stories of the past greats fascinating and it was great to discover and re-discover some wonderfully talented people. If you want to know why three men followed a chicken who was crossing a road, then went into a bar and one of those men decided to stand-up on stage and tell a joke, then this is the documentary for you.