Don’t Think Twice: An Improv Film for the Ages

(L-R) Tami Sagher (Lindsay), Gillian Jacobs (Samantha), Keegan-Michael Key (Jack), Mike Birbiglia (Miles), Chris Gethard (Bill), Kate Micucci (Allison) in Mike Birbiglia’s DON’T THINK TWICE. Courtesy of Jon Pack.

If you are a fan of improv comedy, Don’t Think Twice is a movie that was made for you.

Written and Directed by Mike Birbiglia, the writer-director-comedian stars alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher, and Chris Gethard.

The aforementioned actors portray members of an improv group called The Commune, a sit-in for the premiere team or show at any theater across the country. They are all friends as any member of an improv group ought to be, especially for one that has been together for eleven years.

But they want to better their lives by getting that big break. Unfortunately, the theater is shutting down and they need to find a new space to perform. Scouts (including Second City/iO veteran Steve Waltien) from Weekend Live, a fictional version of the long-running Saturday Night Live, come to see them perform in hopes of picking up new talent for the series. Ultimately, two members are asked to audition but only one makes the show.

The auditions end up upsetting the group’s dynamic and at times, it appears that they may not even have much of a future. Do they give up on their dreams of making it? The fact that this film deals with failure is something that is not so common for many films to explore. At the same time, Don’t Think Twice offers a movie that is both insightful and honest when dealing with its subject. Mike Birbiglia takes us through the day in the life of an improv comedian.

After being selected for a world premiere at South by Southwest on March 13, 2016, the movie was released by The Film Arcade on July 22, 2016 and while I’m just now getting to writing my review, the movie just started it’s 11th week in theaters. You can check out a Facebook photo to find out what cities the film is playing in.

While other films have explored the world of stand-up comedy and television sketch comedy, Don’t Think Twice is the first non-documentary film to explore the world of improv comedy. For someone who has been in improv for as long as I have, it is a film that should definitely be recommended and seen in theaters if possible.

The Blu-Ray is available for pre-order now.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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