Greetings again from the darkness. Have you heard the one about the comedy festival poking fun at comedy festivals? Of course not. And you may not even be familiar with comedian Eugene Mirman. But the efforts of co-directors Julie Smith Clem and Ken Druckerman ensure that by the end of their documentary, we understand the impact of Eugene Mirman's Comedy Festival (founded to parody comedy festivals).
So who is Eugene Mirman? He's one of the key players in alternative comedy ... comedians who don't rely on traditional jokes, and often perform in places other than comedy clubs. If you ever watched the series "I'm Dying Up Here", you saw a comedian perform in the back of a local deli. That is an example of alternative comedy. When you check the lineup of comedians included here, it becomes even more obvious. Kristen Schaal, John Hodgman, Kumail Nanjiani, Janeane Garofola, Jim Gaffigan, Bobcat Goldthwaite, Mike Birbiglia, and Michael Showalter are just a few of the participants. Ms. Garofola embraces her "alternative" by labeling herself a terrible joke writer, and more of a "filibusterer."
Eugene Mirman is known for his voice acting ("Bob's Burgers" and "Archer"), as well as his appearances on TV series such as (the brilliant) "Flight of the Conchords." He married Set Director Katie Tharp and they had a son named Oliver. These personal details matter because Katie's cancer plays a part in Eugene's final year for the festival, and we get a glimpse of their home life, including time with Oliver. Their personal life is instrumental in elevating this from a Comedy Central special where comedians parade across the stage, to a real life drama that inspires a comical look at the parts of life that don't seem so funny on the surface.
A community of comedians is on full display here at The Bell House in Brooklyn. They recall the first time they met or saw Eugene perform, and recollect memories of the festival's past 10 years. Each of those festivals were presented with some off-the-wall theme - sometimes funny, sometimes poignant. H Jon Benjamin (lead voice in "Bob's Burgers") tells his story ... a pork chop story that was his introduction to Eugene. Silliness is ever-present, but the Eugene/Katie love story stands on its own - including the 'first kiss' photo that graced their wedding invitation. The festival may have begun as a joke, and comedians may shy away from dragging their personal life into the act, but it's clear "comedy is about connecting with people", and its value never diminishes.
