Mike Birbiglia
Tramps may be a rom-com story we’ve all seen before, but it’s done with charming and nuanced touches that make it a joy to watch.
Films focusing on a very niche subject walk an incredibly fine line. Most of the time if a film is geared on something specifically niche, it’s a fair bet that the writer or director has experience in the subject. This can either work brilliantly in favour of the film, or it can alienate audiences and feel quite awkward to experience.
Mike Birbiglia examines the start of another comedy career in Don’t Think Twice, the second feature from the writer, director, actor, and all-around performer. He had a lot of support adapting his semi-autobiographical play and book into his first film, Sleepwalk with Me, but strikes out on his own with Don’t Think Twice, taking sole writing and directing credits. Still, it’s hard not to think of a film about an improve troupe as an ensemble, especially when it features of bevy of established comedians like Keegan-Michael Key and Gillian Jacobs.