Not that its message will come as a huge surprise to anyone, but the documentary "Comedian" re-emphasizes the whole notion that doing comedy really is hard.

As clich�d and predictable as that is, however, the film does give it a slightly different perspective — by showing comedian and former television star Jerry Seinfeld actually getting flustered after forgetting part of his routine.

"Comedian" would benefit from a bit more context (such as focusing on a few amateur comics rather than just professionals). And there's not nearly enough footage of the actual routines.

But it is fascinating to see how much work and preparation goes into stand-up comedy — and to see how hard even the most seasoned pros take failure, even failure that is just momentary. Director Christian Charles focuses primarily on how two pros — Seinfeld and up-and-comer Orny Adams — deal with such adversity.

After two years, the veteran Seinfeld is essentially starting from scratch, with a set of all-new material he's road-testing on a brief tour of smaller New York-area comedy clubs.

Adams is his own worst enemy, with his hopes and fears nearly overwhelming him as he prepares for his biggest showcases to date — a comedy festival in Canada and his first-ever appearance on national television.

Refreshingly, the film doesn't always paint the most flattering portraits of its subjects. In particular, Adams comes off as being petulant and unlikable.

However, while it's a bit disconcerting to see Seinfeld using four-letter words, he's the one who emerges as endearing here (witness the tender scene of the former TV star singing to his infant child backstage).

On the downside, there are times when the film's sound mix is bad — particularly during a few scenes in which Charles allows the jazzy score to drown out the conversation between Seinfeld and fellow comedians Colin Quinn, Chris Rock and George Wallace.

"Comedian" is rated R for occasional use of strong sex-related profanity and some off-color humor (dealing with bodily and sexual functions). Running time: 81 minutes.

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