Don't Think Twice

"Del Close once said watching great improv is like watching people put the plan together when they're already in the sky."

The Commune is an improv group in New York City.  The six members are close friends and enjoy performing together.  Miles (Birbiglia) created the group and teaches improv classes, Lindsay (Sagher) is a rich girl who is coasting through life, Allison (Micucci) is an artist working on her first book, Bill's (Gethard) family doesn't understand his life, Jack (Key) likes to create big characters, and his girlfriend Samantha (Jacobs) is a natural performer.  Their performance space has been sold and they are trying to find a new space.

Members of the sketch show "Weekend Live" attend one of their shows.  They are impressed and invite Jack and Samantha to audition for the show.  Jack is cast in the show, but Samantha is not.  With this sudden change in their group dynamic, can The Commune stay together or will their dreams drive them apart?


I discovered this film through Netflix.  It sounded interesting and had a great cast, so I gave it a try.

Most of the main cast (all but Kate Micucci and Gillian Jacobs) have rots in improv / stand-up.  Two weeks before filming began, the cast performed improv shows.  It gave them the opportunity to bond as a group and to add authenticity to their performances.  The film thanks improv groups The Upright Citizens Brigade and The Second City.  And the show "Weekend Live" is a based on TV show Saturday Night Live.

The characters are funny, and realistic; the film runs the gamut of emotions.  The characters are figuring out what they want in life and at a cross roads, it isn't easy but it is a part of life.  I think the film sums up their feelings on it well "Your 20s are all about like hope, and then your 30s are all about realizing how dumb it is to hope."  It embraces the humor but isn't afraid to show other emotions.

The cast is great.  Everyone pulls their weight, although the film focuses more on Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Birbiglia, and Gillian Jacobs.  Birbiglia also wrote, co-produced, and directed the film.  It is a well-made low-budget film and definitely worth checking out.

Don't Think Twice (2016) 92 minutes
Rating: R for language and some drug use
Director: Michael Birbiglia
Starring: Keegan-Michael Key as Jack
Mike Birbiglia as Miles
Gillian Jacobs as Samantha
Kate Micucci as Allison
Tami Sagher as Lindsay
Chris Gethard as Bill