Peter Fitzgerald Reviews — Don’t Think Twice

Certain indie films succeed by virtue of a strong story and singular director, but when they also include a pitch perfect cast, the results can be nothing short of indelible cinema, and Don’t Think Twice is such a film.

Written, directed and starring Mike Birbiglia, the film concerns a popular improv comedy troupe, The Communes, each of its members striving to reach the next level in their careers — likely a spot on an SNL-like TV sketch comedy show Weekend Live.

But, when its showiest member Jack (Keegan-Michael Key) achieves that dream, the rest of the tightly-wound Communes are shaken to the core and employ disparate means to create similar success only to compare and despair in the insular, heartbreaking world of TV sketch comedy.

Key, Birbiglia and the rest of the cast including a resplendent Gillian Jacobs, doe-eyed Kate Micucci, deadpan Chris Gethard and entitled Tami Sagher embody likely participants in such a troupe in roles that seem custom fit to their personas — making every note of the film ring with the truth of vérité.

As with any success story where a Thespis (Key) emerges from the chorus, there is considerable jealousy, soul-searching and heartbreak when his fellow chorines with similar aspirations are left in the background. And when the performance space they’ve inhabited is pulled out from under their feet and all may be lost, one is reminded of a scene from the musical, A Chorus Line when the auditioning dancers are asked, “what are you going to do when you can’t dance anymore?” But, in Don’t Think Twice we see the goring pains born of tough choices, rekindled dreams and new vistas made manifest with considerable risk.

The most heartrending of all the performances in the film, is not surprisingly, the film’s writer Mike Bisbiglia. At the end of a certain line in his career and his womanizing, his character experiences inner turmoil, jealousy, envy, loss and love without telegraphing a moment of it. His is among the best leading male performances of the year, and should be rewarded come awards season.

Though the plot gives the viewer ample spoilers regarding the outcome of the company’s plight, the emotional payoffs are as deeply felt as they are organic to the world of the film. Here, Mike Birbiglia has planted a flag in the cinema firmament as a breakthrough voice in adult comedies with brain and heart.

One hopes he’ll expand his vision into broader arenas and sprout his creative wings in the vein of a WOP Woody Allen.

One also hopes that top studios will court Birbiglia for future works in lieu of more of the middlebrow schtick they consistently offer with lesser talents.