You are here:
Hysterical

Hysterical

2021

TV-MA

Director

Andrea Blaugrund Nevins

Runtime

87 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

An honest and hilarious backstage pass into the lives of some of stand-up comedy’s most boundary-breaking women, exploring the hard-fought journey to become the voices of their generation and their gender.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

6.9/10

Good


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Fair

The documentary focuses primarily on the gendered experiences of women. While it explores breaking social boundaries, it lacks explicit queer-specific narratives or non-cisnormative character arcs.

Gender Representation

Excellent

The film excels at subverting traditional hierarchies by centering women as intellectual and comedic authorities. It highlights female agency and the dismantling of patriarchal structures within the comedy industry.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Fair

The film features a specific cohort of contemporary comedians, but the racial composition is not explicitly detailed. It lacks evidence of a non-Anglo-Saxon majority cast.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Excellent

The narrative offers a sophisticated critique of traditional institutions and systemic barriers. It emphasizes empowerment through the disruption of conventional social expectations and professional hierarchies.

Disability Representation

Minimal

There is no evidence of characters or subjects navigating visible or invisible disabilities as a primary narrative driver in this work.

Strengths

  • Exceptional focus on female agency and the subversion of patriarchal comedic structures.
  • Strong critique of traditional social and professional hierarchies through personal narratives.
  • Effective elevation of women as intellectual and cultural authorities.

Areas for Improvement

  • Lack of explicit LGBTQ+ character arcs or queer-specific narratives.
  • Insufficient detail regarding the racial and ethnic diversity of the featured comedians.
  • Absence of representation regarding visible or invisible disabilities.

AI Analysis

Hysterical is a powerful documentary that centers on the agency of women in the male-dominated world of stand-up comedy. It successfully disrupts traditional hierarchies by positioning female comedians as the primary drivers of cultural discourse. While the film is highly effective at exploring gendered struggles and professional empowerment, it remains somewhat narrow in its scope. The lack of explicit LGBTQ+ narratives and unclear racial diversity limits its broader inclusivity. Ultimately, the film serves as a significant study of how marginalized voices claim space and challenge established social norms through humor and lived experience.

How are these scores produced? →

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.