Good One: A Show About Jokes

Good One follows Mike Birbiglia as he works out a new batch of jokes grounded in his own life. The arc moves from his Rhode Island roots to the corridors of Washington, where he tests material that springs from honest moments, messy memories, and the friction between what we say on stage and what we keep private. Across interviews and performances, Birbiglia pieces together punch lines from ordinary events, family stories, and conversations with friends in comedy. The film treats stand up as a craft and a confession, inviting viewers to watch jokes take shape while personal truths surface without overstepping into melodrama.

Released in 2024 and directed by Eddie Schmidt, the documentary centers on Mike Birbiglia's stand up material drawn from his life, letting the creator shape jokes through his own experiences and friendships.

Audience reception is modest, with a 5.1/10 average from a small pool of reviewers. The film centers on honesty and vulnerability, showing how lived moments become jokes, and what that process costs a comedian in terms of boundaries and responsibility to the audience.