Having been in the comedy world for almost his whole life, writer/director Mike Birbiglia knows a thing or two about what makes someone funny, but also successful.
That’s why his latest flick, “Don’t Think Twice,” comes from such a soft spot in his heart; it’s hard not to believe everything he is passing off as fact.
In the film, Birbiglia stars alongside a few other comedian-actors like Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci and Keegan-Michael Key, among others, who are part of a local comedy troupe from New York City. Some members from the past have gone on to bigger and better things, whereas others, like Birbiglia’s Miles, have stayed put, gaining more and more jealousy with each passing member.
Now, it turns out that another member of the troupe is being looked at for a possible spot on a late night comedy show. This leads the whole troupe to reconsider their lives, as well as their careers during this time. Sure, the movie can be often funny, but there’s also a lot of detail to these characters that makes their hearts and emotions bleed.
The movie’s more than just a comedy – it’s a dramatic and emotional look at people trying to make it big, while also realizing that sometimes, their hopes and dreams don’t always come true. It’s a corny sentiment, but Birbiglia’s writing is so heartfelt, it works.
4 out of 5 starsDan O’Neill is currently a journalism student at Temple University. He can be reached at tuf73940@temple.edu.
