SummaryThe iconic cartoons of The New Yorker have become an instantly recognizable cultural touchstone over the past 90 years, and Leah Wolchock's intimate documentary offers an unprecedented glimpse into the process behind the cartoons. The film follows cartoon editor Bob Mankoff as he sifts through hundreds of submissions and pitches every week to bri... Read More
Directed By:Leah Wolchok
Very Semi-Serious
Metascore
Generally Favorable
74
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Where to Watch
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Metascore
Generally Favorable
74
88% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
13% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 19, 2015
90
It's a very, very funny film but also sweetly sad and poignant, echoing the mix of humor and pathos that marks a New Yorker cartoon exactly what it is.
Dec 10, 2015
88
Catnip for writers and humorists of all stripes, Wolchok’s film provides delightful breakdowns of various cartoons, examining the comedic rhythm of their design and detail.
Nov 19, 2015
80
Buzzing attentively but not exclusively around cartoon editor Bob Mankoff, director Leah Wolchok strikes a pleasing balance between office minutiae and comic greatest hits; she gets enough face time with individual artists to please comedy nerds while keeping things wholly accessible to casual fans.
Nov 19, 2015
80
If you’ve ever been curious as to how a cartoonist gets into The New Yorker and what happens then, Very Semi-Serious offers very satisfactory info.
Nov 19, 2015
75
With more than a hint of the magazine’s trademark insouciance, the film gives us a close look at how the selection process works and introduces us a to a handful of younger artists, as well as such stalwarts as George Booth and Roz Chast.
Nov 19, 2015
70
A delightful if never particularly deep survey of an American comic institution.
Nov 17, 2015
50
It doesn't seem to aspire to much more than proving that there are nice, talented people behind the New Yorker's walls.
User score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
100% Positive
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
0% Mixed
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Dec 1, 2015
10
Best movie I watched after two weeks at the Vancouver Film Festival I was so surprised and won't give away the story but humour and life come crashing together in this delightful movie about cartoons. I was not even a fan of the New Yorker but found the story just drew me in. It was one of the best movies I have ever watched and I watch a lot of movies. I recommended it to as many people I can. Why has no one else watched this gem. It was an amazing story.
Production Company:
- American Ninth Art Studios
Release Date:Nov 20, 2015
Duration:1 h 23 m
Tagline:A partially thorough portrait of New Yorker cartoonists
Website:
Awards
San Francisco International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
News & Documentary Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Chicago International Film Festival
• 1 Nomination
