Misery Loves Comedy is a 2015 documentary film directed by Kevin Pollak.
Synopsis Pollak speaks with dozens of stand-up comics, actors, and writers to explore the psychological drive behind choosing comedy as a career. The film's central thesis investigates the "sad clown" trope - the popular assumption that comedians are inherently miserable or that emotional trauma is a necessary ingredient for creating humour. Through a series of candid anecdotes, the interviewees discuss their childhoods, their early experiences on stage, and the therapeutic nature of making an audience laugh.
Reception
Geoff Berkshire of Variety wrote, "Lining up well-known comedians to riff on tragedy as the basis for comedy is a sharp idea, and a documentary doesn't need to become a full-fledged therapy session to tease out the connective tissues. But Pollak proves too distracted by his subjects, or perhaps too inclusive on the invite list, to hone in on a meaningful thesis."
References
External links