Tag Archives: Amy Schumer

MISERY LOVES COMEDY (2015): The Thing I Liked…

January 17, 2017 Giadreams (themoviemylife.com) Leave a comment

Misery Loves Comedy (2015), Steve Coogan

I love funny people, so I knew I’d have a good time watching writer/ director Kevin Pollak’s documentary, Misery Loves Comedy. It’s a film that has a mixture of funny people, from comedians to actors and filmmakers all answering the question: ‘Do you have to be miserable to be funny?’

I’ll start by saying that I had a good time overall but I did find some of the editing odd, especially in the first two thirds. Secondly, maybe because I already know plenty about funny people, which could be why I didn’t feel as enlightened by what most of the comics had to say.

Thirdly, the number of people featured is a lot. Perhaps it would have been more interesting had the documentary been about a handful of celebrated funny people, therefore allowing for more in depth interviews and probably less jarring editing.

Last but not least, as much as I love Steve Coogan, Richard Lewis, Amy Schumer, etc., it didn’t help that nearly none of my favourite comics made an appearance in this documentary; Louis C.K. to name just one.

Misery Loves Comedy (2015), Richard Lewis

The part I loved the most in Misery Loves Comedy is towards the end when the comics finally answer the question of whether one needs to be miserable to be funny. Another way to ask the question is ‘whether a person is born funny or if it’s something they develop.’ One of the best answers I’ve heard isn’t actually in this documentary, but in a Kjersti Flaa interview with Louis C.K. where his response is:

‘I definitely don’t think you can be born funny. Funny happens to you. It’s like you can’t be taught how to be emotionally a wreck. Funny is a defence mechanism.’

Amen to that is what I say! Sometimes it’s a matter of whether you find a way to focus on the funny side or you wallow – and sometimes if you cant quite see the funny side, it’s wise to let your favourite funny person help you do that and or take your mind elsewhere.

Watch Misery Loves Comedy because you’re curious about funny people. It may not feature all your top favourite comics, but you’ll enjoy the entertaining company nonetheless.

Happy Film Loving,

Comedy

SNATCHED (2017): New Trailer From Amy Schumer, Goldie Hawn…

December 16, 2016 Giadreams (themoviemylife.com) 2 Comments

Snatched (2017), Goldie Hawn, Amy Schumer

Read my spoiler-free movie review of Snatched (2017).

Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn’s promising-looking new action/comedy, Snatched, centres on a mother/daughter adventure in South America. And the following trailer makes it look rather good.

My fingers are crossed that this is even better than I anticipate. I figure I can be a little hopeful since Spy (2015) was great, and some of the producers behind that worked on this.

Ike Barinholtz, Randall Park and Christopher Meloni also star.

Snatched Release Dates: May 12th, 2017 (US & UK); May 18th, 2017 (GER)…

Happy Film Loving,

Comedy, Documentary

DYING LAUGHING: New Trailer For Documentary About Comedians, Their Lives, Creative Process…

June 3, 2016 Giadreams (themoviemylife.com) 2 Comments

Dying Laughing is a new documentary that delves into the complicated lives of stand-up comedians, the craft and their creative process.

I’m looking forward to hearing what many of the current great comics have to say. Names including Russell Peters, Billy Connolly, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart and Amy Schumer to name just a few.

I’m curious about whether all comics really are ‘very damaged people. I’m sure many are but surely there must be exceptions, no?

I didn’t see Ricky Gervais or Louis C.K. in this trailer but I sure hope they too make an appearance.

Dying Laughing Release Dates: Premieres on June 4th (2016), at the LA Film Festival. Further dates to be confirmed.

Happy Film Loving,

Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

TRAINWRECK (2015): The Good Things…

November 2, 2015 Giadreams (themoviemylife.com) 2 Comments

Trainwreck (2015), Amy Schumer, Bill Hader

Trainwreck stars Amy Schumer, the comedienne behind one of my favourite shows on Comedy Central, Inside Amy Schumer.

Written by Schumer and directed by someone I like to refer to as ‘comedy film king’, Judd Apatow, Trainwreck is a romantic comedy I had high hopes for.

Overall, the film isn’t bad. The scenes I enjoyed most are in the middle of the film, including the conversations between the characters played by Bill Hader, LeBron James and Amy Schumer. Ezra Miller’s Donald is also particularly memorable.

Trainwreck (2015), LeBron James, Bill Hader

Unfortunately, some scenes in the first twenty minutes of Trainwreck felt overly long, and the ending left me craving creative disruption of the romantic comedy genre – probably more than I ever have before.

I often find that whenever comics star in their comedy films, the narrative moves too slowly for my liking. It probably has something to do with me being used to the sketch show/standup comedy format where the point is rarely dragged out unnecessarily, at least not by the good comics.

Part of the problem with Trainwreck is that I already enjoyed a good number of the funniest moments in the trailer. So, once again, I may have liked the trailer more than I did the film. Those who are not already quite familiar with Schumer’s comedy will likely love the movie more because of the general newness. The rest of us might end up doing more smiling than laughing.

Happy Film Loving,