Misery Loves Comedy

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Misery Loves Comedy

Released Apr 24, 2015

1h 34m

Documentary

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

35%

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26 Reviews

33%

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250+ Ratings

Comics Martin Short, Nick Swardson, Jimmy Fallon and others talk to actor Kevin Pollak about the dark side of being funny.

Critics Consensus

Misery Loves Comedy starts with an idea worth exploring, but proves frustratingly unable to enlighten or amuse.

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Ryan Gilbey

New Statesman

It's a decent enough film for comedy buffs though there aren't a whole lot of surprises.

Nov 11, 2015

Full Review

Steve Rose

Guardian

Do you have to be sad to be funny? You'll have to sit through a slew of micro-anecdotes and shop talk before you get any answers from this choppy documentary - longer than any decent comic would defer a punchline.

Rated: 2/5

Sep 17, 2015

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David Hughes

Empire Magazine

If only he had probed a bit deeper, and widened his scope beyond the predominantly white, male subjects (including our own Rob Brydon, Steve Coogan and Stephen Merchant), this could have been a fascinating film as well as a funny one.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 10, 2015

Full Review

Michael J. Casey

Michael J. Cinema

If 'Misery Loves Comedy' is a stream-of-consciousness exploration of the world of comedy, then that consciousness belongs to Pollak.

Rated: 2.5/5

Sep 16, 2021

Full Review

David Kettle

The Arts Desk

Pollak only gets round to misery right at the end, in a quick-fire sequence of comedians either agreeing or disagreeing that you have to be miserable to be funny. By then, though, you'll probably have stopped caring.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 21, 2017

Full Review

Jonathan Kiefer

SF Weekly

[Kevin] Pollak isn't taking a solve-for-x approach here so much as simply geeking out with his fellow tribesmen (and a few -women), who may or may not be your favorite funny people, anyway.

Aug 24, 2017

Full Review

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Audience Member

Could have been sooooo much better. You will get better interviews listening to podcasts. I felt like I watched the PG version of what this could have been.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Miser was seeing that fat drunken slut Amy Schumer

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting conversation with some of the most successful comedians. Which is odd that's it's not more funny.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

As a fan of films and documentaries, it's a bit annoying how thematically unfocused this talking heads doc is. As a fan of comedy, however, it's impossible to not get enjoyment from the insightful and hilarious interviews from the 50+ comic superstars who make up this movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A very insightful view into the lives of many stand-up comedians and the heartbreak that accompanies the joys of performing. Funny, authentic and heartfelt. A must see documentary for Comedy fans.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A straightforward series of interview clips that kept my attention from start to finish. Visually, it isn't an artistic triumph but it didn't attempt to be either. If you love stand-up comedy and are fascinated by the psychology behind some of your favorite comedians & actors, this documentary will scratch that itch. Good stuff.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Synopsis

Comics Martin Short, Nick Swardson, Jimmy Fallon and others talk to actor Kevin Pollak about the dark side of being funny.

Director: Kevin Pollak
Producer: Becky Newhall, Burton Ritchie, Barry Katz
Screenwriter: Kevin Pollak, John Vorhaus
Distributor: Tribeca Film
Production Co: Heretic Films
Genre: Documentary, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 24, 2015, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 28, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.3K
Runtime: 1h 34m