US comedian and filmmaker Mike Birbiglia may not be a comedic household name here in the UK as yet, but he’s been slowly building up a strong reputation State-side, particularly with his stand-up specials and one-man shows. His breakthrough in the latter, Sleepwalk with Me, formed the basis for his directorial debut of the same name, which went on to win an award at 2012’s Sundance Film Festival.
He’s also parlayed his talents on stage into a burgeoning acting career, cropped up recently as a supporting player in high-profile works like Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck and the YA adaptation The Fault in Our Stars. His small screen roles has seen him appear in popular fare such as Girls and Orange Is the New Black.
Birbiglia’s appealing mix of broad laughs and excruciating truths found in both his work under the spotlight and behind the camera, is present and correct in his second feature as director, star and writer, Don’t Think Twice. Produced by celebrated US radio personality Ira Glass (one of his collaborators on Sleepwalk With Me), the film looks at the lives of a long-running comedy improv troupe whose loyalty to each other is tested as they make the leap towards fame and recognition.
The following clip features talented co-star Gillian Jacobs, who will no doubt be recognisable to many from her role in Dan Harmon’s much-loved college-based sitcom Community, and her turn as Mickey Dobbs, one half of the unconventional romantic duo from acclaimed Netflix show, Love.
Don’t Think Twice is available to download digitally in the UK from 22nd May.
