After comic Tig Notaro is diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, she creates a poignant stand-up set that becomes legendary overnight. She has continued to tour rigorously while inspiring a new generation of survivors.
The directors of Tig, do a nice job showing the relationship between her art and her life, establishing Ms. Notaro's history as a comic and balancing it with behind-the-scenes shots of private moments with her family and of her fellow comedians.
In the end, "Tig" isn't about anything more than herself, but the combination of her sense of humor and hard-won perspective on life makes it a very easy and affecting couple of hours to spend with her.
The pile of calamities in Notaro's life was devastating, but as she talks about them, you come to understand that, in a way, surviving one challenge strengthened her to deal with the next.
Every time you hear or see Notaro perform, you're reminded that you'd likely be getting a greater insight into both her work and her personal life by seeing one of her ace routines rather than by sitting through ninety minutes of "Tig."
Documentaries on queer subject matter are hardly rare these days, but it's uncommon to see one which retells the evolution of a woman's sexuality with such nonchalance and openness.
Somewhat ordinary in both execution and ultimate meaning, Tig is effective in the end as a satisfying dramatic comedy because of one simple thing: these events happened, and this unassuming little woman dealt with them in stride.
While it doesn't actually go much deeper than Tig already does onstage, this generous-minded docu should be amusing enough to watch while folding laundry.
York and especially Goolsby have a background in reality television, and that pedigree is all too apparent in the way the film is shot and edited, leaning heavily on confessional interviews and montages set to emotional music.
Tig isn't exactly groundbreaking. It's more of a well-organized vlog at times than a documentary, but what makes the film work in spite of its episodic simplicity is Notaro.
Every time you hear or see Notaro perform, you're reminded that you'd likely be getting a greater insight into both her work and her personal life by seeing one of her ace routines rather than by sitting through ninety minutes of "Tig."
