Misery Loves Comedy

It is well documented that some comedians are depressives, but this star-studded cavalcade of talking heads largely from the American comedy circuit (plus Stephen Merchant and candid Aussie Jim Jefferies) takes that generalisation to its logical conclusion, positing that they're all wracked with self-doubt and self-loathing, and perversely thrive on it. Directed by Kevin Pollak - best known as an actor in The Usual Suspects and Casino but apprenticed in stand-up - Misery Loves Comedy builds a persuasive case that all gag-smiths have issues, reaching back into childhood and exploring themes like dying onstage and "landing" a joke, all fraught with fear of failure. Edited from 60 hours of footage, this unpretentious doc is hamstrung by amateurish graphics and lack of background information beyond the occasional still, but the insight shines through from the likes of Amy Schumer, chat-show king Jimmy Fallon, Matthew Perry, podcaster Marc Maron and Freddie Prinze Jr, whose depressive comic father shot himself.