It Started As A Joke

It Started As A Joke is an evocative and emotionally riveting documentary film directed by Ken Druckerman and Julie Smith Clem, and released in 2019. The film stars a collection of celebrated comedians such as Michael Ian Black, Wyatt Cenac, and Jo Firestone, providing an insider look into the thriving world of stand-up comedy and its profound impact on the lives of comedians and their audiences.

The entire narrative revolves around the annual comedy festival held in Brooklyn, New York known as the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival. Despite starting as an inside joke among friends, the festival morphed into a significant event on the city's cultural calendar and a highlight for the comedy industry. The festival, led by Eugene Mirman himself, featured top-tier comedic talent from around the country and quickly gained fame, not just in Brooklyn, but to comedy connoisseurs nationwide.

At its core, It Started As A Joke offers an intimate portrait of the beloved comedian Eugene Mirman, the creative powerhouse behind this festival. Mirman's wit and charm are undoubtedly the film's driving force, as it celebrates not only his comedic genius, but his resilient spirit and authenticity, allowing audiences to delve deeper into how comedy can provide solace and understanding amidst personal upheaval.

The film puts on display a seemingly infinite list of comedic talents, including Michael Ian Black, Wyatt Cenac, and Jo Firestone. Audiences are privy to never-before-seen backstage footage, rip-roaring stand-up routines, and candid interviews, offering a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the comedic process, highlighting not only the joy and laughter inherent in the world of comedy, but also the challenges, struggles and insecurities often camouflaged behind the jokes.

Michael Ian Black delivers his distinctly intelligent and sarcastically humorous brand of comedy, while Wyatt Cenac and Jo Firestone each bring their unique comedic prowess to the screen, contributing to the overarching narrative of comedy's role in exploring and expressing life's absurdities and complexities.

However, the film's appeal extends beyond pure entertainment. It shows how the performers use comedy as a medium to cope with personal tragedies and grapple with world issues. Through a series of deeply personal interviews with Mirman and other featured comedians, the film explores how humor can act as a healing force, a way to cope with grief, and a means to talk about difficult topics. As the reality of these underlying themes gradually emerges, the film goes from light and humorous to poignant and thought-provoking.

The documentary adds another layer of profundity as it interweaves the comedy festival's final year with Mirman's own personal journey—dealing with his wife's cancer diagnosis. Mirman's struggle provides a fascinating subtext to an already complex narrative, driving home universal themes of love, suffering, resilience, and laughter amidst chaos.

It Started As A Joke skillfully utilizes its subject matter – the hidden world behind stand-up comedy – as a window into larger and deeper concepts, intertwining humor with heartache and laughter with tears. It presents an intriguing study of comedy not just as entertainment, but as a cathartic outlet, a beacon of comfort, and a tool for confronting life’s adversities head-on.

With moments of laughter, tears, wit, and raw emotion, It Started As A Joke is a testament to the power of comedy and its ability to bring light into the darkest corners of life. The film can be a roller coaster ride for viewers – one moment you are laughing at a hilarious punchline, and in the next, you are deeply moved by a heartfelt revelation. By blurring the boundaries between comedy and tragedy, It Started As A Joke reflects the complexities of life itself and the resilience of the human spirit.

In conclusion, It Started As A Joke is a heartwarming, entertaining and deeply emotional film that will change the way you look at comedy. Whether you're a fan of stand-up or simply interested in a poignant narrative about life and laughter, this film is a must-watch. Its unique blend of comedy, truth, and vulnerability adds an extra dimension to the film, making it not just a tribute to the art of stand-up comedy, but an ode to the human experience.