THE PREMISE:

"Comic and podcast pioneer Marc Maron reflects on loss and growth after the death of his partner, Lynn Shelton. As he processes grief and crafts comedy, he revisits his career, family struggles, and the evolving comedy world at 60."

OUR DOCUMENTARY REVIEW:

Steven Feinartz’s documentary Are We Good? captures an intimate portrait of the life of comedian Marc Maron and his firsthand experience coping with grief. The doc chronicles Marc’s journey returning to standup comedy around a year after the sudden death of his partner Lynn Shelton.

Are We Good? shows firsthand Marc picking up the pieces of his life after the tragedy, as he attempts a return to standup seeking normalcy and comfort. 

Fellow comedian colleagues (including John Mulaney, Nate Bargatze and David Cross) of Marc’s are interviewed throughout, providing insight into their relationship, his podcast and the importance of his voice to the comedy community; older and newer generations of comics alike. Infamously renowned for his sometimes prickly demeanor and not so subtle self righteousness and criticisms of fellow comedians and their successes, Are We Good? showcases a different side of Marc: a side that is vulnerable, human, relatable and empathetic.

The title Are We Good?, a phrase often used on his WTF podcast, hints at Marc’s everlasting need for approval and to be on good terms with people, even those who he has admittedly wronged in the past. Maron seems to use his podcast as a platform to rectify past damaged relationships but never fully breaks from his natural defense mechanisms and tendency to deflect his own insecurities onto his guests, often directing the attention towards them and their insecurities and problems. Most of Marc’s natural guard is stripped away during the doc, which was an enlightening experience as a fan of WTF to see Marc come out of his shell a little bit.

The documentary successfully splices audio clips from the podcast with present day reactions and emotions. The clip of Marc announcing Lynn’s death on his podcast is especially heart wrenching and sets the tone for Marc’s starting point a year later trying to jumpstart his life and comedy career anew. The doc also honors Lynn’s memory as a successful tv director with a big heart and warm personality who touched many lives around her. The infusion of helplessness, sadness and humor propel the film forward and envelope the audience completely within its true story as it unfolds. Fans of Maron will love the film, but people who are unfamiliar with Marc’s work will still discover a personal connection to Marc’s experiences and the relatable pitfalls of his humanity and coexistence with the world around him.