Laughter has to be one of the more effective weapons in the battle of the sexes, so it shouldn't be surprising to find so many women sharing their unique (and sometimes harsh) perspective on the stand-up comedy circuit. Instead of getting mad, these girls get funny, and this modest documentary offers a sampling of greatest hits (often below the belt) from the new generation (circa 1992) of female comedians.

But what should have been a foolproof subject for a documentary film is hurt by the routine organization of material, shortchanging some lively footage of the comics on stage plying their trade in favor of too much backstage analysis. The hit-or-miss humor speaks volumes by itself (there obviously aren't too many dead spots in a compilation film), but the best jokes ironically have nothing to do with tampons or idiot boyfriends.

Stand-up comedy is a form of comedic performance in which a comedian stands on stage and delivers a series of humorous monologues, anecdotes, jokes, and observational humor to entertain an audience. The comedian typically speaks directly to the audience, often addressing a wide range of topics including everyday life, personal experiences, social issues, and cultural observations.

John Mulaney in John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (2018)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

A comedy documentary featuring America's top stand-up female comedians, with performance clips, interviews and archive footage.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Prelude to a Kiss/Universal Soldier/Boomerang/Wisecracks/The Best Intentions

Wisecracks

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