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Title: Don't Think Twice (2016)
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Gillian Jacobs | ... | Samantha | |
| Mike Birbiglia | ... | Miles | |
| Kate Micucci | ... | Allison | |
| Tami Sagher | ... | Lindsay | |
| Keegan-Michael Key | ... | Jack | |
| Emily Skeggs | ... | Shy Sarah | |
| Chris Gethard | ... | Bill | |
| Brandon Scott Jones | ... | Audience Chuck | |
| Sunita Mani | ... | Amy | |
| Sondra James | ... | Bonnie | |
| Richard Kline | ... | Mr. Coughlin | |
| Glenn Wein | ... | Psychiatrist | |
| Neil Fleischer | ... | Pianist Seth | |
| Erin Darke | ... | Natasha | |
| Gary Richardson | ... | Gary | |
Jack (Keegan Michael Key) and his girlfriend Samantha (Gillian Jacobs) are a perfect couple who are also Teammates on a popular improv group that perform at a struggling comedy spot in NYC. Together, the team has a family like bond but individually they have their personal dreams of being on the weekly television show "This Weekend Live". Written by inhollywoodtv
"Don't Think Twice" is a real, heartfelt dramedy about a improv comedy troupe named "The Communes". The film begins after this troupe has been going for maybe over a decade, and all of its members are in their 30s and still have day jobs to get by (except for Lindsay, who has rich parents). The film starts with their preparation for a show, and it shows their connection to each other.
Improv comedy is about the group, as one of the three rules in the beginning of the film states, but this film is about each character, and how they let go of the group and move on. Unlike many comedy films today, the comedy in the film is character based, and since the characters are the main focus of the film, the comedy is intertwined with every scene. It isn't a film that has "jokes" necessarily, but its a film about funny moments because of the interaction between the characters, which is very similar to improv.
As stated in the beginning of the film, there is no losing in improv. Even as they fall, they can make it good on the way down, and they do that in real life and in their improv towards the beginning of the film. The problems begin to arise when the rules they could follow so easily before begin to fall apart. They said it was all about the group, but they can't progress in their career and get on "Weekend Live" (an obvious jab at SNL) if they don't worry only about themselves. They can't say yes to everything if they have to look out for themselves first. They have to think first if they're doing written material.
The highlight of the film is its performances and writing, but it is a visually interesting film in some regards. Scenes are shot with care and attention to the state of the characters. For instance, there is one scene in which Samantha is doing her last improv show alone, and during her performance she realizes that, even though she loves them, she likes being away from her troupe, and especially Jack. The scene is shot closer to her face and with a mire shallow depth of view as it progresses and she becomes more satisfied with her independence.
So, obviously the group begins to fall apart after Jack goes to "Weekend Live", but they end up accepting their maturity and realizing the only way they could keep the group together is to let each person do what's best for themselves.
This is the kind of film Judd Apatow wants to make: it isn't shot boringly, the comedy is real, the characters are relatable, and the drama doesn't feel forced.