Misery Loves Comedy

"Kevin Pollak explores the dark side of comedy in this fascinating documentary."

Apr 14 2015 PG-13 1h 34m
Comedy, Documentary

Do you have to be miserable to be funny? More than sixty comedians—including stand-ups, writers, actors, and directors from the US, Canada, and abroad—take on this question, sharing anecdotes and insights with lively enthusiasm.

Plot

A group of stand-up comics, comedic actors and comedic filmmakers are individually interviewed about different aspects of the profession especially as it relates to their personal life. The topics of questions and answers include: the relationship with their parents with regard to their comedy; why they chose what is a natural kid's path of wanting attention as a career; when and/or how they discovered how comedy really works; the rush or high of performing; the need for public adoration; the comics that they admired early in their career and what material they may have stolen from other comics; when they knew their comedy had matured to professional status; the feeling of bombing; the relationship with peers, especially in comparison to relationships with non-comics; and the process of putting in the countless hours. The ultimate question placed to them is do you have to be miserable to be funny?

Written by

Kevin Pollak, John Vorhaus

Directed by

Kevin Pollak

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

Heretic Films

Languages

English

Awards

1 nomination total

Scores
# of Votes
1,317
Average Rating
6.3 out of 10
Metascore
51
Popularity
NA