I Am Comic

As a stand-up documentary, this is far more enjoyable to me than Seinfeld's Comedian, though it doesn't quite hit the dizzying heights of The Comedians of Comedy. The scope is wider than Patton Oswalt's doc, so we don't get to know the comics quite as well here. But it is a more revealing look at life on the road. The "comic apartment" section with Nikki Glaser is particularly eye-opening. Listening to comedians talk about comedy is fascinating to me, and plenty of greats are here to dish.

The sad, wonderful, and green smoke filled lives of comedians is explored, interweaving through the narrative of Shyder's comeback, which is glorious to see. A must-see for aspiring comics, but anyone with a funny bone should enjoy this. Also, props to the doco itself for actually being funny as well.

Fuckin' Carlos Mencia admits to stealing bits from small time comics, failing to mention that he stole a bit from Bill Cosby. Seriously, likes like going up on stage to play "Let It Be" and pretending not to know who Paul McCartney is. I really feel they should have had somebody smash him a little or got rights to some of the footage of Joe Rogan going after him to his face because as somebody who writes and performs stand up I can say stealing is pretty unacceptable. Fuck him.

A lot of this was really heartwarming for someone who wants to be a comedian. But the Shydner subplot felt like something he felt like doing during shooting, and it feels awkward.

I enjoyed it about as much as Comedians of Comedy but for very different reasons. I do stand-up myself (not often or very well or for money) and this film absolutely captures all the reasons I love those 5 minutes on stage.

Did y'all ever see Comedian from 2002? This is way better than that, but if you ask me there's yet to be a good documentary about standup comedy.

Anything that gives Carlos Mencia a platform automatically get deducted 50 points. Interesting to know the origins of the Sara Silverman Joke......Over all kind of beyond boring. I got up and folded laundry at one point during it.

Best sincere, behind-the-scenes look at stand-up since Comedians of Comedy

As someone who likes to think a lot about comedy, reads about comedy, and listens to many comedy-related podcasts, there isn't much new for me. But it's a reasonably entertaining overview of the craft of stand-up. There aren't as many laughs as you'd hope for but it's occasionally funny and informative. There's a ton of great comics, and a handful of shitty ones (like the contemptible Carlos Mencia). The framing device works well in keeping an otherwise scattershot documentary held together.

Good all-round stand-up doc that's just not unique or focused enough to really stick in the memory. Covers many aspects of the art but arguably spreads itself a bit too thin, so all the boxes are ticked but you feel a tad unfulfilled in every area. The talking heads are a bit random too. While the Ritch Shydner returning to the stage stuff gives the piece a backbone, it does also work to keep reminding you of the superior Comedian too.

Good documentary but it would have been much better if it focused solely on working comedians and the history of stand up instead of ripping off the 2002 documentary "Comedian" and their storyline of a comedian (Jerry Seinfeld) getting back into standup with no material. Ritch Shydner isn't funny or interesting.