"An alluring, sympathetic, humorous and one of a kind feature length documentary"

Dying Laughing takes an honest look at the complexed and captivating lives of some of the world’s most prominent stand-ups.

An alluring, sympathetic, humorous and one of a kind feature length documentary, focusing on the anguish and overall excitement of managing to make people laugh.

The demands of a comedian include: writing their own material, being the director and principal performer. Plus, in the case of stand-up there is neither a rehearsal, nor time to practice as it can only work when played out to a live audience. The feedback for which can be crushing.

For many an audience jeering would be an instant put-off, however, for a stand-up it is but a mental challenge.

More than 50 comedians, from the famous to the “unlabellable” (or non specific) are interviewed, with incredible footage of being on the road, and performing in comedy venues.

These Artists do conjure up an image of what it is to live in their shoes. Successful Comics appear to have built up more of a resistant skin, from which they can bounce back.

Jamie Foxx exclaims that being already well endowed can lessen the blow of a weakly received performance. To what might be the surprise of many, this film captures a mood that is mainly self-pitying, contentious and fearful.

Faced with the prospect of failing, Jerry Seinfeld suggests that Comedy is beyond an art form, it is magic.
A longer section of “Dying Laughing” is about life on the road, where one can find themselves awfully lonely and battling a hostile audience.

Sarah Silverman on “hecklers” speaks of a time when one of them was to let out a whistling sound. The late Garry Shandling, to whom the film is dedicated gave the following advice: ‘stand up Comedy is “a calling,” and cannot, therefore, be pursued casually.’