Introduction
Are We Good?, the forthcoming Marc Maron documentary directed by Steven Feinartz, captures the comedian at one of the most reflective stages of his career. Maron has built a reputation as a sharp, brutally honest voice in stand-up, podcasting, and acting. From his early days as a caustic club comic to hosting the groundbreaking podcast WTF with Marc Maron—where he has interviewed cultural icons ranging from Robin Williams to President Barack Obama—Maron has continually redefined himself while never losing his edge.
His acclaimed performance in Netflix’s GLOW further cemented his reputation as a multifaceted performer, capable of balancing cynicism with vulnerability. Yet deep struggles have marked Maron’s personal journey. None more devastating than the sudden 2020 death of his partner, filmmaker Lynn Shelton. That tragedy looms large over Are We Good?, as Maron confronts grief, mortality, and the enduring need to create.
Synopsis
In its finest moments, Are We Good? is both an intimate character study and a meditation on grief, creativity, and survival. It opens with Maron on stage, delivering sharp-edged material that feels as much like confession as performance. The film flashes back to archival images and video of Maron, as well as the late Lynn Shelton. This is used as a narrative tool to highlight the ups and downs of Maron’s life. Interviews with fellow comedians, such as David Cross and John Mulaney, are sprinkled throughout, offering their perspectives on the legendary, cantankerous Maron, to great effect.
Feinartz shows throughout the opening 15 minutes of the documentary how Shelton was the perfect Yin to Maron’s Yang. Her almost constant sunny disposition was the ideal counterbalance to Maron’s decades-long cynicism and distrust of the world. When they have a ‘meet-cute’ moment during a 2015 podcast interview, you can feel the electricity. It’s also what makes what happens in 2020 all the more unbearable when Shelton dies suddenly from a rare blood disease.
The remainder of the film is focused on Maron’s ability to come to terms with this. For those who know and follow Maron, he wears his heart on his sleeve. He’s an open book, and there’s very little that his fans don’t know about. Addiction, recovery, mental health, failed relationships, and his over-the-top love of cats. It’s all masterfully woven into Feinartz’s film. Like so many other comics, Maron copes by turning his pain into art. The clips of him discussing Shelton with podcast guests Patton Oswalt and Andrew Garfield (both have experienced similar loss) are tough to listen to without welling up.
Discussion
The power of Are We Good? lies in its honesty. Unlike many comedian documentaries that polish their subjects into inspirational figures, this film shows Marc Maron as he is —grieving, restless, and still searching. Director Steven Feinartz lets the quiet moments of his film breathe, often holding on to Maron’s pauses or contradictions. These choices reveal the man behind the jokes, offering something raw, unguarded, and deeply personal.
The film also works well in its structure. By weaving together stand-up clips, podcast excerpts, and home footage, it highlights the tension between Maron’s public persona and private struggles. The archival material—particularly scenes with Lynn Shelton—is handled with care, never becoming overly sentimental. For longtime fans, these inclusions feel deeply personal; for new viewers, they provide essential background.
Still, Are We Good? is not a perfect documentary. Some stand-up sequences run long, repeating themes that have already been made clear in Maron’s offstage reflections. While they showcase his craft, they sometimes slow the film’s momentum. The documentary also assumes viewers are familiar with Maron’s career, which could leave newcomers slightly lost during references to podcast milestones or comedy-world details.
Conclusion
Are We Good? resonates because it doesn’t pretend to have neat answers. Instead, it captures a portrait of a man grappling with grief, aging, and his sense of purpose. Like Maron himself, the film can feel messy and uneven, but that authenticity is precisely what makes it compelling. It’s not about resolution but about the ongoing struggle to keep moving forward, to stay connected, and to keep asking the hard questions.
Ultimately, Are We Good? succeeds because it never tries to “solve” Marc Maron. Instead, it presents him in flux—grieving, questioning, and still finding meaning through connection. The film’s title asks a question without offering an answer, reminding us that, like Maron himself, we are all works in progress. In embracing that uncertainty, the documentary delivers something rare: honesty that lingers long after the credits roll.
