Nerds That Geek Movie Review: 'Don't Think Twice'

Written by Kate McHargue

In a world full of Adam Sandler and Tyler Perry movies, it’s a rare thing to find a comedy with real heart. Mike Birbiglia’s Don’t Think Twice gives audiences exactly that. Set in current day New York, the film follows the last days of an improv comedy group (The Commune) and their struggles with loss, love, ambition, and the age old question of what it means to be successful. Their theater is closing and being turned into yet another Urban Outfitters and it feels like the final days of high school; bittersweet and horribly sudden, but with all the added concerns that come with being in your late thirties and still not being sure what you want to be when you grow up.

The film opens with the three main rules of good improv: 1) Say yes. 2) It’s not about you, it’s about the group. 3) Don’t think. What follows is a genuine and achingly raw exploration of how these rules apply to real life. In improv, “no” is the death of momentum. “No” halts the action and stalls whatever magic was being created. In life, “no” often seems to have the same effect. No, you didn’t get that dream job. No, your loved one isn’t going to be around forever. No, your life isn’t what you always thought it would be. And in the face of all of these personal failures and “no’s”, it’s easy to forget the people who tell you “yes”. Yes, things are hard but I’ve got your back. Yes, you can do it. Yes, I believe in you. It’s easy to think about all the things you can’t change and forget that happiness is a matter of perspective.

The central conflict of the film revolves around the closure of their beloved theater and their rivalry over which of them will be lifted from the trenches and hired at the coveted “Weekend Live,” an SNL parody late night show. While some among them view this as the definitive mark of success, others seem content with the intimacy and purity of their hole-in-the-wall operation. But, as with all life, nothing lasts forever and some things aren’t meant to be. In each character there is something to admire, pity, and root for. It’s a cast of underdogs that never get their Cinderella moment, but find a compromised version of happily ever after in their own ways.

The genius of Don’t Think Twice is that, much like real life, the moments of humor really do function as comic relief from the tension and drama between the characters. No matter how sad or awkward or tense the situation is, inevitably someone cracks a joke and everyone smiles and joins in. When the group returns from a trip to Philadelphia to visit Bill’s (Chris Gethard’s) father in the hospital, they compete over who can do the best impression of his father’s mumbled and warbly “Thank you,” as they left. At first glance, the scene feels macabre and inappropriate, but as Bill’s smirk slowly evolves into a smile it’s clear that the best thing about friends is their ability to lighten the mood and help us find the humor in even the darkest of moments.  It’s not that things are suddenly fixed or better, but nothing ever seems quite as bad when you’re laughing with people who understand.

At a Q&A and advanced screening at The Mayan Theater here in Denver, Birbiglia said that his favorite films “make you forget you’re watching a movie. They feel like real people and afterwards you wanna go home and Google them, find out if they’re okay.” It’s safe to say that Birbiglia’s direction and writing achieved just that. Anyone who has ever felt adrift or stuck in life will find comfort in Don’t Think Twice, a film that tells us that life isn’t fair, but it sure is funny.

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