By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Daniel J. Clark
Starring: Hayley McFarland | Joe Kwaczala | John Eisenrich | Jon Gabrus | Sam Wiles
Year: 2025
Running time: 86
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37027594/reference/
Brett says: “On the heels of a movie like FRIENDSHIP, it’s clear to see that comedic sensibilities of the 18-34 range are definitely shifting the landscape of the comedy genre. Joe Kwaczala writes a screenplay for AMERICAN COMIC, directed by Daniel J. Clark, that taps into that target demographic much in the same way as Tim Robinson seemed to do with his starring role. The approach in AMERICAN COMIC, however, is a mockumentary. Going into this blindly is the only way I can imagine achieving maximum effectiveness. Much of the reward for the audience is in various plot reveals that heighten the comedy.
“The intro to the film is immersive enough that it would take a moment in the opening clip to realize one is walking into a spoof of the stand-up comedy realm. Soon enough, with the introduction of the first comedic subject of this documentary style, the comedian Jay Christopher is revealed as a rugged, skeptical, fed-up humorist, and the audience is let in on the irony of the film. He represents the wry, “what’s happening to our country” approach that lines up well with a host of sardonic comedians who have made it big from this grumble-about-things approach. His journey is juxtaposed with a Jovan, a pretentious “pretty” poser concerned with his appearance and marketing as a key to reaching his audiences: a clear representation of modern influencer culture in the social media market.
“The film is a cleverly edited back-and-forth between the two comedians as they tackle the travails of the stand-up lifestyle. AMERICAN COMIC taps into a host of reflections on society, including hypocrisy, social interaction, media-based façade (even from casual social media users), and plenty of other topics that may or may not be at the thematic forefront, depending on the lens with which the viewer goes into the movie. The generic last descriptor is a big reason why the film resonates with this viewer multiple days after screening it.
“Perhaps one of the trickiest elements in using the mockumentary medium with this particular subject is being funny from two different angles since the subject itself is comedy. That is, the joke is on the characters within the film, so the dramatic irony is the humorous sticking point, as it is with all mockumentaries, but the material used by the comedian characters has to be funny enough to be believable for their story arcs to progress. So, there also has to be true comedy that works when these stand-up comics are being featured. This is what makes the film less of an easy slam on “bad comics” and a real delight for fans of intricate screenwriting once the delineation between worlds of “this is parody” and “this is an attempt at real comedy” becomes evident. It is easy to get lost in the singular approach of watching the movie as mockery only, but writer Joe Kwaczala—likely not well-known to a wide audience—is using the film as a vehicle for his own comedic stylings, a comedian in his own right who is trying to build an audience just like the characters of the film, so there are moments that definitely land in a way that’s not specifically tied to just pointing and laughing at an individual subject. He is also the lead actor, so this gives him a chance to be seen, not just heard from.
“Beyond providing insights into the fact that this film seems to go beyond just a standard make-fun-of-subjects mockumentary, it should be reiterated that the effectiveness of the film is most reliant upon limited knowledge of the plot and the jokes themselves. Audience members who have to know exactly what they’re walking into with any film are highly likely to have a negative take on the film’s success in what it’s trying to achieve. That is not to say there still isn’t a chance the film’s comedy will fall flat for viewers who do take the advice of going into it blindly, but it’s just clear that the strength of themes and humor is most effective when one just goes along for the ride. If seeing a mockumentary about the state-of-affairs in the current stand-up comedy world is appealing or not appealing in its own right, then it’s definitely worth making time for … or not, depending on your initial reaction to the premise. It does deliver for its intended audience.
“3 CATS OUT OF 5“