Hysterical

“Hysterical” is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, moving and entertaining.

Hysterical isn’t the be-all, end-all for documentaries about women in comedy. But it’s a step in the right direction. ... f you’re not already a comedy nerd and need an awakening, this is a good start. But for a deeper dive, I’d recommend the singular documentaries of legends such as Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, or Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley.

A documentary that more than lives up to its billing. [29 Mar - 11 Apr 2021, p.9]

Illuminating and uplifting FX documentary.

The film is pleasant and watchable, a cheerleading effort to rally support for a purported stand-up sisterhood, but I kept waiting for the personal revelations that would drop my jaw. ... Scope may be Nevins' most conspicuous weakness here. In wanting to capture "women in comedy" as a cultural monolith, she ends up erasing the individualized voices and personae that help these women stand out in their industry.