Trying to Make it Big in the Big City

From left: Mike Birbiglia, Kate Micucci, Gillian Jacobs,
Keegan-Michael Key, Chris Gethard, and Tami Sagher in "Don't Think Twice"
Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com

In terms of all of the different forms of acting you’ve seen, you’ll probably think of film, television, and Broadway, for the most part.  With the stories the actors have to tell, they have the benefits of scripts to help them bring the narrative to life and captivate their audiences.  However, there’s one form of acting that may sometimes go forgotten, and that’s the art of improvisation.  In these groups, the actors make up their stories on the spot and must keep the energy going with as little dead space as possible so they can keep their audiences entertained.  Given how this art form requires the actors to always have their imaginations going in order to build upon the skit they’re creating, it’s an admirable method of performance.

This is something that’s explored in director Mike Birbiglia’s comedy-drama, “Don’t Think Twice.”  With a natural bond throughout the cast and a story that displays the fun and hardships of trying to gain recognition as a performer, this film provides the emotions and laughs of a group of actors trying to make their breakouts into stardom.

In New York City, an improv troupe (Mike Birbiglia, Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Chris Gethard, and Tami Sagher) come together regularly to put on shows for an eager audience.  However, when two of them get the chance to audition for “Weekend Live,” a “Saturday Night Live” type of show, and one of them ends up being selected, the group eventually has to come to terms with the possibility that maybe not all of them are cut out for show business.

All of the cast members display a wonderful amount of chemistry, which helps us become invested in their bond when they’re performing on stage for audiences and dealing with their troubles when they’re off stage.  Everything about their characters rings painfully true, and their actions and emotions help in bringing this very realistic situation to life.  The way they exhibit the anxiety and jealousy that come with trying to make it big in show business is a major highlight of the cast and is genuine enough to put you on edge whenever the characters express any of those feelings.

Although we’ve seen a lot of these actors do comedic work in the past, one of the best things about the movie is how well they give themselves over to the drama of their predicament and must face the likelihood that they won’t always be performing together.  Seeing these actors stretch their talents from the comical aspects into the deeper drama of the story speaks to these actors’ understanding of the emotion and stress that goes into the star-making process.

One of the best aspects of Birbiglia’s screenplay is how he dedicates enough time to each of the main characters, as he allows us to get to know about each of their lives and how they commit themselves to trying to build successful lives as entertainers.  Whether through interactions between characters, or moments when the characters are apart from each other, Birbiglia offers a considerable amount of insight into each person and the dreams they hold.  As a whole, the screenplay is a detailed portrait of people wanting that glimmer of acclaim, hoping it will turn into something more, but also facing the possibility that they won’t be doing improv forever and must soon move onto different endeavors.

As a director, Birbiglia is able to find a balance between the comedy and drama.  He allows the cast to be funny, but also retains the tough reality of the situation with how success isn’t guaranteed for everyone.  “Don’t Think Twice” is a movie that never shies away from being true to life and showing the struggles of trying to build a career as a performer, and it’s that authenticity that makes this movie something special.

Final Grade: A