The Forgotten Keegan-Michael Key Dramedy You Can Stream On Hulu
When it comes to movies about comedy, the lion's share of attention tends to gravitate toward stand-up. There's just something inherently theatrical about watching a single person go up on stage and expose their inner thoughts to the world. From the dark "The King of Comedy" to the semi-autobiographical "The Big Sick," stand-up comedians have no shortage of representation on the big screen. The same can't really be said for another comedic medium — improv.
The rules of improv are simple to learn but difficult to master. A group of performers go on stage and take suggestions from the audience. The team creates entire scenes completely unscripted from these bits and pieces, building off what someone else has started. Whether you've seen an improv show in-person or not, you owe it to yourself to journey into the world popularized by the Upright Citizens Brigade by checking out "Don't Think Twice" on Hulu.
With a 98% rating on the Tomatometer, it's one of the most revered films you probably haven't heard of until this point. While there are plenty of jokes that come courtesy of a hilarious cast that includes Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, and Mike Birbiglia, the movie also has a lot to say about what it means to chase your dreams.
Don't Think Twice depicts the importance of rolling with the punches
"Don't Think Twice" follows six improvisers who all have dreams of making it big in the comedy world beyond their little theater. One of them, Jack (Key), actually ends up attaining his goals when he gets cast on "Weekend Live," which is basically the "Saturday Night Live" of this universe. The other improvisers want a similar shot of getting a spot, but it just doesn't pan out. They all have different dreams, and part of those dreams involves moving on from the idea of one day being a famous actor.
Naturally, anyone who wants to make it in the entertainment industry wants to be part of something recognizable; however, life doesn't always pan out the way we think. Much like improv itself, it's vital to be flexible and change at a moment's notice when circumstances alter. It's a bittersweet look at comedy that will hit all too close to home for anyone with similar dreams of making it big.
Critics adored Mike Birbiglia's second directorial feature. It earned such words of praise from J.R. Jones of The Chicago Reader: "It has more laughs than any big-studio comedy I've seen this year, but it's dead serious about the difficulty of creating something collectively in a world where everyone's chasing the spotlight." Much like Birbiglia's stand-up, "Don't Think Twice" knows how to tow that line between comedy and drama, always allowing the emotional undertones to land without undercutting any jokes.
It's one of the most overlooked films of 2016, so don't let this gem fall to the wayside.