Punchline (2002, DVD)

Comedy, they say, is one of the hardest emotions to portray. After all, most people can feign horror, fear, loathing, rejection and tears, but to force the jaded to chuckle is a rare breed. To some it comes somewhat naturally with facial expressions, body language or their own infectious laughter. To others it is a chore. A stand up comedian, I would think, would have both the good and the bad of humor. They receive the immediate gratification or cat calls but also have to appear up' all the time to pull off their act. What about headaches, colds, PMS, flat tires ~ all those things that can...

Isn't stand-up comedy supposed to be funny? Well, the audience at the "Gas Station," the comedy club in the movie Punchline think the comedians are funny. Personally, the only thing I found more painful to watch than this tragedy set in the world of stand-up was the stand-up itself. The "comedians" here tell bad jokes, and are as unlikable doing their on-stage material as they are maladjusted backstage. The unhappy stand-up comic is an extension of the cliche sad clown. Everyone knows that stand-up comics are the saddest and most maladjusted people in show business. They have the most...