While I admit I'm a huge stand-up comedy fan, you don't have to be to fall in love with Mike Birbigla or his "factionalized" character, Matt. A funny, honest, sad (but never too sad) autobiographically inspired road trip through Matt's 20's that features some wonderful performances by Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane and James Rebhorn. I spent the 90 minutes alternating between laughter and wishing I could reach through the screen and slip a Xanax into Matt's beer. I dragged along my 14 year old daughter, who smiles or speaks rarely in my presence these days, and she not only loved it but enthusiastically discussed it with me for an hour afterwords. I only wish it were longer. I could have easily spent the entire afternoon riding shotgun with Matt.
33 Reviews
Quirky, just like it's star/director
NickKnack6811 January 2022
Not hilarious, but an interesting story that's partially based on real life events. I've enjoyed Birbiglia's stand up so I eased into this effortlessly. Not sure if non fans will enjoy it but I think it's worth a shot.
I think it plays out better as a monologue.
cricketbat6 July 2018
Sleepwalk with Me is an enjoyable movie. However, I have heard Mike Birbiglia tell this story on stage, and I think it plays out better as a monologue. As a film, this story doesn't have much of a climax and it ends rather abruptly. The lack of real resolution might be frustrating to some viewers, but Sleepwalk with Me still has undeniable charm, and it's a fascinating look into the life of a comedian.
Mike Birbiglia
SnoopyStyle26 August 2013
Matt Pandamiglio (Mike Birbiglia) is a loser struggling comedian who's actually more of a comedy club bartender. His girlfriend Abby (Lauren Ambrose) is too good for him. Abby pressures him to marry her, and he starts walking in his sleep under the stress.
Mike Birbiglia's semi-autobiographical one-man show is turned into a movie. It has the air of real life. However I just couldn't shake the question that probably everybody asked while watching this movie. "Why did she stay with this loser?" Mike probably played up his loserness too much at the beginning. His acting at the start had no energy at all. It just made it hard to understand why Abby would ever stay with him. There is an imaginative explanation based on real life. But it still isn't quite satisfying.
Mike Birbiglia's semi-autobiographical one-man show is turned into a movie. It has the air of real life. However I just couldn't shake the question that probably everybody asked while watching this movie. "Why did she stay with this loser?" Mike probably played up his loserness too much at the beginning. His acting at the start had no energy at all. It just made it hard to understand why Abby would ever stay with him. There is an imaginative explanation based on real life. But it still isn't quite satisfying.
Pick one, marriage or career?
Reno-Rangan2 September 2013
A funny little movie about a man who suffers from a sleepwalk disorder. The story tells his struggle to hold love and career life together while one turns to be a disaster and another one successful.
Well the story was a bit uncatchy in opening few minutes because the man of the movie, Matt Pandamiglio, tells his earlier life story while recording it into a camera which looks like some documentary. That makes totally unaware of the situation of the tale intended to but later it turned out to be a nice one. The character Matt, sometimes turns to be a nerd and sometimes make us feel fond on him for his innocence. I was little confused for the randomness of his character. Realised that was the motive created by the writer to make the viewers to go gaga over the destination of the tale.
In the movie I liked many individual scenes like Matt jumping out of the window, especially all the sleepwalk scenes. It was a simple story, it was not intended to hurt anybody emotionally from the romantic side of the tale but the line the Matt says at the end of the movie makes really sweet-fully hurt. That one line makes the movie worth giving another rating star or point.
I never knew before this director-come-actor, Mike Birbiglia. This movie was loosely based on his own life story, he did a good job as his first directional venture as well first major role in a movie. Hope he to become next Mark Duplass. The movie should reach to every movie buff around the world because it was one of a fine independent comedy. You will like it if you ever liked 'Safety not Guaranteed' or 'Ruby Sparks', recommended to watch once.
Well the story was a bit uncatchy in opening few minutes because the man of the movie, Matt Pandamiglio, tells his earlier life story while recording it into a camera which looks like some documentary. That makes totally unaware of the situation of the tale intended to but later it turned out to be a nice one. The character Matt, sometimes turns to be a nerd and sometimes make us feel fond on him for his innocence. I was little confused for the randomness of his character. Realised that was the motive created by the writer to make the viewers to go gaga over the destination of the tale.
In the movie I liked many individual scenes like Matt jumping out of the window, especially all the sleepwalk scenes. It was a simple story, it was not intended to hurt anybody emotionally from the romantic side of the tale but the line the Matt says at the end of the movie makes really sweet-fully hurt. That one line makes the movie worth giving another rating star or point.
I never knew before this director-come-actor, Mike Birbiglia. This movie was loosely based on his own life story, he did a good job as his first directional venture as well first major role in a movie. Hope he to become next Mark Duplass. The movie should reach to every movie buff around the world because it was one of a fine independent comedy. You will like it if you ever liked 'Safety not Guaranteed' or 'Ruby Sparks', recommended to watch once.
Sleepwalking has never had a better ending.
Kelmer-336-1371976 April 2012
My wife and I saw this film at this year's SXSW festival, as it was our top priority to watch as we have loved Mike Birbiglia for a long time now- and so excited that many more people are getting to know him (or at least getting closer to pronounce his last name correctly). The entire narrative of the film is based on several of his true stories pulled from his memoir and a one-man show of the same name. I would recommend anyone seeing this movie to read his book afterwards, as it has many verbatim moments and great stories from his childhood that were not in the movie. In regards to this the movie itself, we found it simply terrific. Full disclosure- I am a huge comedy nerd; so that bias most likely does have to be factored in before taking my opinion, yet I believe this story is compelling and entertaining for absolutely any adult.
The film starts with Mike in his late 20's in a relationship with his girlfriend (Abby) since college. The issue of why they are not married at this point is immediately brought up, and it becomes the central issue for him to come to terms with. Before you immediately typecast this plot as a typical "white people problem" indie, the terrifying events that unfold due to this dilemma both in real-life and subconsciously will keep you completely engaged in what will happen next. The film does flashback a few times when he and Abby meet, but most of the storyline is within about the ages of 28-33 and when the real decision making that goes into becoming an actual adult becomes an ultimatum. While being barraged with questions of "Why are you still a bartender", "Why aren't you married yet", Mike timidly avoids trying to have a real answer and only wants to stay in his own world. However, because of not addressing these on the surface, he is forced to deal with them in his dreams. This begins with Mike waking up Abby by kicking a hamper declaring "There is a jackal in here!". This would soon to prove to be the most abstract and least disturbing sleepwalking instance that he would experience. As he becomes further entrenched into a new, unstable career and uncertainty with his Abby, his episodes become clearer and force him to finally make a real choice in his relationship, stand-up, and this debilitating sleep problem.
Birbiglia had included his brother and "This American Life" host Ira Glass to help with the adaptation of his life up to this point. I think they really understood what was relatable for anyone in relationships, and scared about what to do next. Almost every scene was tightly edited to show this, and the performances were deeply funny and heartbreaking. Since there was very little money to put into this project, he relied on many of his friends and friends of friends to call in favors to come in. This included many admired comedians like Marc Maron, Kristin Shall, David Wain, Hannibal Burees and Wyatt Cenac who all do a great job in representing the struggles of the stand-up process and the bleakness of working on the road.
The few problems I had with the movie revolve around the length of it. It may have been about 75 minutes. In no way are you wasting any money to see it, but being such a huge fan of his memoirs, I felt there could have been more time to bring up a couple more events that make the start of his comedy career more compelling. Many of which revolve around his parents who are featured only a brief time, but it is understandable that there is only so much you can do to illustrate an auto-biography.
Overall, I feel that this is one of the most honest and self-aware films you will see. Even if you have read the book and seen the show, there are still so many wonderful idiosyncrasies that Mike Birbiglia wanted to explore before finally put his past behind him- and focus on his rising career. At the screening he did a Q&A with us, and one of his answers made me appreciate it 10 times more. That was, when you see the film and he gives the epilogue, that entire scene (as well as all of the forth-wall) was done in post-production. It is almost unfathomable to think that this conclusion was not thought of at the beginning of writing the movie because it really was the thesis of the entire story, and it was truly one of the best endings I have ever seen. Even for that reason alone, I would implore anyone to see this movie.
The film starts with Mike in his late 20's in a relationship with his girlfriend (Abby) since college. The issue of why they are not married at this point is immediately brought up, and it becomes the central issue for him to come to terms with. Before you immediately typecast this plot as a typical "white people problem" indie, the terrifying events that unfold due to this dilemma both in real-life and subconsciously will keep you completely engaged in what will happen next. The film does flashback a few times when he and Abby meet, but most of the storyline is within about the ages of 28-33 and when the real decision making that goes into becoming an actual adult becomes an ultimatum. While being barraged with questions of "Why are you still a bartender", "Why aren't you married yet", Mike timidly avoids trying to have a real answer and only wants to stay in his own world. However, because of not addressing these on the surface, he is forced to deal with them in his dreams. This begins with Mike waking up Abby by kicking a hamper declaring "There is a jackal in here!". This would soon to prove to be the most abstract and least disturbing sleepwalking instance that he would experience. As he becomes further entrenched into a new, unstable career and uncertainty with his Abby, his episodes become clearer and force him to finally make a real choice in his relationship, stand-up, and this debilitating sleep problem.
Birbiglia had included his brother and "This American Life" host Ira Glass to help with the adaptation of his life up to this point. I think they really understood what was relatable for anyone in relationships, and scared about what to do next. Almost every scene was tightly edited to show this, and the performances were deeply funny and heartbreaking. Since there was very little money to put into this project, he relied on many of his friends and friends of friends to call in favors to come in. This included many admired comedians like Marc Maron, Kristin Shall, David Wain, Hannibal Burees and Wyatt Cenac who all do a great job in representing the struggles of the stand-up process and the bleakness of working on the road.
The few problems I had with the movie revolve around the length of it. It may have been about 75 minutes. In no way are you wasting any money to see it, but being such a huge fan of his memoirs, I felt there could have been more time to bring up a couple more events that make the start of his comedy career more compelling. Many of which revolve around his parents who are featured only a brief time, but it is understandable that there is only so much you can do to illustrate an auto-biography.
Overall, I feel that this is one of the most honest and self-aware films you will see. Even if you have read the book and seen the show, there are still so many wonderful idiosyncrasies that Mike Birbiglia wanted to explore before finally put his past behind him- and focus on his rising career. At the screening he did a Q&A with us, and one of his answers made me appreciate it 10 times more. That was, when you see the film and he gives the epilogue, that entire scene (as well as all of the forth-wall) was done in post-production. It is almost unfathomable to think that this conclusion was not thought of at the beginning of writing the movie because it really was the thesis of the entire story, and it was truly one of the best endings I have ever seen. Even for that reason alone, I would implore anyone to see this movie.
If you're sure nothing else good is in movie theaters...
EephusPitch14 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I guess I should start with a disclaimer: a couple hours after seeing this movie in the theater, I popped a copy of Akira Kurosawa's Red Beard into my DVD player, because I had borrowed it from work a couple of weeks back, and the pressures of managing fantasy baseball teams in two leagues hadn't afforded me the time to commit to a 3 1/2 hour epic set in Tokugawa era Japan. Consequently, my recollections of this film will perforce be even more evanescent than they probably would normally have been.
So, the set-up is this: our hero, Matt, is living (and it would appear, being supported by) his brilliant, gorgeous longtime girlfriend, Abby. In the course of working open mikes and providing intros for established comedians, he has managed to work up "almost eleven" minutes of material. A flaky agent sends him on the road to a series of extremely bush league engagements where, through dint of desperation, determination, and by mining his fear of commitment to his relationship with Abby, he manages to find his comedic feet, and carve out a career for himself. His lightning strike on the road to Damascus is the line he throws out backstage, talking to a more established comedian: "I'm not going to get married until I'm sure nothing else good can happen in my life". And there is the crux of the film. Matt is tired of everybody correctly perceiving that his relationship with Abby is the best thing that can be said for him, and so, at whatever cost his subconscious takes out on his sleeping hours, he starts to pull out of the relationship. At the end, he concludes that Abby was going to spend the rest of their lives with him just because she doesn't want to hurt him.
The problem I had, and it's not a serious one, is believing that choice. Maybe it's just my appreciation for Lauren Ambrose, but really, there have been perfectly happy marriages built on worse foundations. The relationship of his parents contributes to Matt's misgivings: his batty mother, wonderfully played by Carol Kane (and why the hell isn't she in more movies?), and his stern father (James Rebhorn), might seem like a misalliance at first glance, but nothing in the film suggests that they aren't perfectly happy together, if a little uncomfortable to be around. And really, is a life of parking lot assignations with stand-up groupies (I suppose there are such groupies, but what a sad thought) the something else good that can come along?
In short, I liked the movie well enough: it was a treat seeing Ambrose, Kane, and Rebhorn, the backstage camaraderie amongst the comics rang true, and Birbiglia's actual stand-up pleasantly reminded me of Garry Shandling's delivery. My complaint would be, no matter how true the story is, it still basically feels implausible.
So, the set-up is this: our hero, Matt, is living (and it would appear, being supported by) his brilliant, gorgeous longtime girlfriend, Abby. In the course of working open mikes and providing intros for established comedians, he has managed to work up "almost eleven" minutes of material. A flaky agent sends him on the road to a series of extremely bush league engagements where, through dint of desperation, determination, and by mining his fear of commitment to his relationship with Abby, he manages to find his comedic feet, and carve out a career for himself. His lightning strike on the road to Damascus is the line he throws out backstage, talking to a more established comedian: "I'm not going to get married until I'm sure nothing else good can happen in my life". And there is the crux of the film. Matt is tired of everybody correctly perceiving that his relationship with Abby is the best thing that can be said for him, and so, at whatever cost his subconscious takes out on his sleeping hours, he starts to pull out of the relationship. At the end, he concludes that Abby was going to spend the rest of their lives with him just because she doesn't want to hurt him.
The problem I had, and it's not a serious one, is believing that choice. Maybe it's just my appreciation for Lauren Ambrose, but really, there have been perfectly happy marriages built on worse foundations. The relationship of his parents contributes to Matt's misgivings: his batty mother, wonderfully played by Carol Kane (and why the hell isn't she in more movies?), and his stern father (James Rebhorn), might seem like a misalliance at first glance, but nothing in the film suggests that they aren't perfectly happy together, if a little uncomfortable to be around. And really, is a life of parking lot assignations with stand-up groupies (I suppose there are such groupies, but what a sad thought) the something else good that can come along?
In short, I liked the movie well enough: it was a treat seeing Ambrose, Kane, and Rebhorn, the backstage camaraderie amongst the comics rang true, and Birbiglia's actual stand-up pleasantly reminded me of Garry Shandling's delivery. My complaint would be, no matter how true the story is, it still basically feels implausible.
If you just want jokes, don't bother, otherwise enjoy!
theconjourer22 March 2013
I saw this movie because I heard about it from Joss Whedon's "boycott." Before I sat down to watch it I glanced at the IMDb rate of 6.7, so I figured take it in on my day off while at home on netflix with nothing else to do. It turned out I loved it. The film follows Matt as he attempts to break into stand up comedy and juggle a relationship with his girlfriend of 8 years, as well as cope with some extreme bouts of sleepwalking. Now this is listed as a comedy, but it's not like comedies that other comedians put out, like Will Ferrell, and I wonder if that's part of the reason for the low ranking. Really the story is a serious one but told in a lighthearted but honest way.
If there were some downsides they would be first that, visually it's nothing special, it looks good but not great. Second, is not so much a downside for me as it would be for what I assume it was for some of the people who gave it negative reviews, (indeed I did see people cite this very reason in their reviews) and that is the ending. The film follows the typical film plot structure up to a point and then it strays from what most people would see as typical. I won't spoil anything but I will say this, I was surprised but then again it makes you think. And that is where it really knocked it out of the park for me. I was a little miffed at first but, the film then leaves you with a thought, which made me re-think the movie and it all came together.
I don't think the average movie goer wants to have a revelation at the end of a movie unless that revelation was "It was all a dream(or was it?)" or "He was dead the whole time."
All in all, the movie is an honest, lighthearted look at an event from Mike Birbiglia's life. A movie that will make you laugh at least a little bit, and you might even take something away from it. If you JUST want to laugh, well go watch the latest Will Ferrell movie.
If there were some downsides they would be first that, visually it's nothing special, it looks good but not great. Second, is not so much a downside for me as it would be for what I assume it was for some of the people who gave it negative reviews, (indeed I did see people cite this very reason in their reviews) and that is the ending. The film follows the typical film plot structure up to a point and then it strays from what most people would see as typical. I won't spoil anything but I will say this, I was surprised but then again it makes you think. And that is where it really knocked it out of the park for me. I was a little miffed at first but, the film then leaves you with a thought, which made me re-think the movie and it all came together.
I don't think the average movie goer wants to have a revelation at the end of a movie unless that revelation was "It was all a dream(or was it?)" or "He was dead the whole time."
All in all, the movie is an honest, lighthearted look at an event from Mike Birbiglia's life. A movie that will make you laugh at least a little bit, and you might even take something away from it. If you JUST want to laugh, well go watch the latest Will Ferrell movie.
Enjoyable Indie comedy from a Rookie Filmmaker
alan-just-7-1456278 October 2012
"Sleepwalk With Me" is a comedy about an comedian struggling with his act, his girlfriend and personal life all while experiencing a sleeping disorder that causes him to unconsciously act out his dreams, sounds like it could be pretty fun. It is for the most part, but the fun times turns to nightmares when acting out a dream on the road causes him to jump out of a 2nd story hotel, avoiding death, but crashing to the ground with shreds of glass tearing up his legs.
This is the type of balancing act that "Sleepwalk with me" successfully achieves throughout the Indie comedy that is adapted from the one man off-Broadway show with the same name. The film stars, and is loosely (and in the case of the window incident, really) based on comedian Mike Birbiglia's life.
As the movie opens we meet Matt Pandamiglio(Mike Birbiglia), talking directly into the camera we quickly learn that he is an aspiring comedian that recently in comedy clubs, has done much more floor mopping, and drink pouring than joke telling. We also meet his wonderful girlfriend Abby (Lauren Ambrose) who is gorgeous, and wonderful, and way too good for this janitor/bartender/hopeful comedian. The pressures of life are amplified by the couple moving in together and a continuous burden to accelerative his life and get married. Much of which comes from his loopy mother, and his unsympathetic father (Carol Kane, James Rebhorn). After meeting with a C-level talent agent, the seemingly unconfident, untalented comedian books a handful of gigs along the east coast college comedy circuit. Despite his lack of success, he remains optimistic and is at least making money telling jokes. During a post-show discussion with a successful comedian played by Marc Maron, he stumbles upon his comedic edge; his dreams, his relationship, his family his personal life.
Despite the onstage success, this fresh material is surely going to cause issues with his girlfriend and compounded with his sleep disorder becoming more dangerous by the night; his life is still as lost as when we met him.
The movie is best when it shows what life on the road is like for a young comedian. As expected, jokes are present throughout, however, until Matt finally finds his niche as a comedian, much of his stand up is abysmal and awkward by design. The supporting cast all does its job as joke/ plot providers' admirably. His parents steal the scenes when on screen as the wearing married couple but I wish that the capable Lauren Ambrose could have been given a little more to do. It has lots of comedian cameos, I would imagine Birbiglia's real life pals, peppered in it throughout. David Wayne, Ira Glass, Kristen Schaal, Jessi Klein all make appearances as friends or comedians.
When everything wraps up I am impressed by the flow and balance of the movie from a rookie filmmaker in Mike Birbiglia. I am not too familiar with him on stage but I found him to be an enjoyable actor, who I was sympathetic for, while more than occasionally laughing along with him. The movie which he co-directs and is written by him and his brother along with "This American's life's" Ira Glass and co-director Seth Barrish is a very enjoyable Indie comedy that is well worth a visit, and I hope that there is more to come from this young comedian and filmmaking team.
See all my reviews at www.popcornmoviereview.com
Medium Popcorn with Butter.
This is the type of balancing act that "Sleepwalk with me" successfully achieves throughout the Indie comedy that is adapted from the one man off-Broadway show with the same name. The film stars, and is loosely (and in the case of the window incident, really) based on comedian Mike Birbiglia's life.
As the movie opens we meet Matt Pandamiglio(Mike Birbiglia), talking directly into the camera we quickly learn that he is an aspiring comedian that recently in comedy clubs, has done much more floor mopping, and drink pouring than joke telling. We also meet his wonderful girlfriend Abby (Lauren Ambrose) who is gorgeous, and wonderful, and way too good for this janitor/bartender/hopeful comedian. The pressures of life are amplified by the couple moving in together and a continuous burden to accelerative his life and get married. Much of which comes from his loopy mother, and his unsympathetic father (Carol Kane, James Rebhorn). After meeting with a C-level talent agent, the seemingly unconfident, untalented comedian books a handful of gigs along the east coast college comedy circuit. Despite his lack of success, he remains optimistic and is at least making money telling jokes. During a post-show discussion with a successful comedian played by Marc Maron, he stumbles upon his comedic edge; his dreams, his relationship, his family his personal life.
Despite the onstage success, this fresh material is surely going to cause issues with his girlfriend and compounded with his sleep disorder becoming more dangerous by the night; his life is still as lost as when we met him.
The movie is best when it shows what life on the road is like for a young comedian. As expected, jokes are present throughout, however, until Matt finally finds his niche as a comedian, much of his stand up is abysmal and awkward by design. The supporting cast all does its job as joke/ plot providers' admirably. His parents steal the scenes when on screen as the wearing married couple but I wish that the capable Lauren Ambrose could have been given a little more to do. It has lots of comedian cameos, I would imagine Birbiglia's real life pals, peppered in it throughout. David Wayne, Ira Glass, Kristen Schaal, Jessi Klein all make appearances as friends or comedians.
When everything wraps up I am impressed by the flow and balance of the movie from a rookie filmmaker in Mike Birbiglia. I am not too familiar with him on stage but I found him to be an enjoyable actor, who I was sympathetic for, while more than occasionally laughing along with him. The movie which he co-directs and is written by him and his brother along with "This American's life's" Ira Glass and co-director Seth Barrish is a very enjoyable Indie comedy that is well worth a visit, and I hope that there is more to come from this young comedian and filmmaking team.
See all my reviews at www.popcornmoviereview.com
Medium Popcorn with Butter.
Not even remotely funny.
mooftcake27 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Not sure what I was expecting here - some kind of quirky indie comedy? I mean, you'd think a film about a stand-up comedian would be funny, right? Sadly, it is not. Not at all.
The film is basically the story of a guy who has an amazing, beautiful, supportive girlfriend, but he's not satisfied with that, so he spends the next hour or so of the film treating her like crap, ditching her to go on some pointless comedy tour, cheating on her, then telling her he wants to marry her but not really meaning it so makes her do all the planning while he flakes off on yet another dumb tour, then comes home and dumps her. The end. With a one line aside of how she went on to get married and have kids with someone else anyway so like, that makes it all okay now and we should just forget about the last hour we spent watching him be a complete jerk.
Seriously, the protagonist of this film has NO redeeming qualities at all. The film manages to be watchable for the first half or so, but then this guy just becomes more and more awful to the point where you have no sympathy whatsoever for him and don't really care what happens to him.
I am really disappointed I wasted 80 minutes on this. (It feels about 3 hours long.)
The film is basically the story of a guy who has an amazing, beautiful, supportive girlfriend, but he's not satisfied with that, so he spends the next hour or so of the film treating her like crap, ditching her to go on some pointless comedy tour, cheating on her, then telling her he wants to marry her but not really meaning it so makes her do all the planning while he flakes off on yet another dumb tour, then comes home and dumps her. The end. With a one line aside of how she went on to get married and have kids with someone else anyway so like, that makes it all okay now and we should just forget about the last hour we spent watching him be a complete jerk.
Seriously, the protagonist of this film has NO redeeming qualities at all. The film manages to be watchable for the first half or so, but then this guy just becomes more and more awful to the point where you have no sympathy whatsoever for him and don't really care what happens to him.
I am really disappointed I wasted 80 minutes on this. (It feels about 3 hours long.)
An earnest and commendable slice of life
StevePulaski5 January 2013
Comedian Mike Birbiglia stars as Matt Pandamiglio in Sleepwalk With Me, which appears to be the autobiographical tale of his life up until this current point. The title of the film stems from Birbiglia's REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, which caused him to fall into deep, deep sleeps, often resulting in him sleepwalking and crossing into danger's way. During one of his shows in Walla Walla, Washington, Birbiglia, disoriented and asleep, jumped from the second-story window of his motel room and narrowly avoided accidental suicide by having thirty-three stitches put in his legs.
Sleepwalk With Me chronicles not only that chapter in Birbiglia's life, but the chapters and events leading up to his career as a comedian and a motivational speaker. He has achieved off-Broadway success for years now, doing two one man shows and a comedy special. In this film, he stars as Matt Pandamiglio, who also narrates the film, making us come full circle like in his one man shows. He is a directionless twentysomething, stuck in an eight year relationship with the charming but bland Abby (Lauren Ambrose) with no plans to marry, and struggling to find stable work as is. What Matt really aspires to do is be a comedian, but his material on stage is slim and his delivery is jittery and brim-full of anxiety. He winds up performing at nearby bars, attracting nothing but hecklers and a mountain of criticism. Upon acquiring an agent from one of his close friends, out of pure desperation, he winds up driving miles away to introduce lip-syncing acts at a college campus. The gig pays about as much as he will for gas up there. When he does get laughs, they come at the expense of his relationship, and the audience seems to be awake and responsive when Matt goes into the details and tribulations that come with a long-term relationship. He states how his girlfriend told him the thing she's most afraid of is losing him to something she can't control. When asking Matt what he is most afraid of he collectively replies, "bears." Mike Birbiglia is a character of true charisma, who could definitely have a long-running career in not only one man performances, but realistic slice-of-life style comedy. The issues he proposes in his own life to his audiences are easily relatable, and his insights are witty and provide us with much of the same warmness we feel when crowded around a group of friends, sharing opinions and ideas. When Matt talks about meeting Abby and falling in what he calls "love," he describes the world "love" as an unlimited amount of the most wonderful things in the world, for him, subjectively, pizza and ice cream. "Love is a mountain of pizza flavored ice cream...and delusion" he then tells us.
Sleepwalk With Me is a wonderful, wholesome comedy mainly because it shows the slow, methodical progression of a struggling comedian battling with his girlfriend, his fear of commitment, the lack of support from his parents, and most of all, his lack of confidence combating with his extreme drive. His only wish in the world it seems is to be able to be good at his passion, and it becomes increasingly hard when his moral support proportions are dwindling and his own life isn't too picture perfect either. But one can turn that around to a positive and say it provides the man with more viable material. Sure as hell beats tired puns on stage at a hometown bar, wouldn't you say? Starring: Mike Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn, and Cristin Milioti. Directed by: Mike Birbiglia.
Sleepwalk With Me chronicles not only that chapter in Birbiglia's life, but the chapters and events leading up to his career as a comedian and a motivational speaker. He has achieved off-Broadway success for years now, doing two one man shows and a comedy special. In this film, he stars as Matt Pandamiglio, who also narrates the film, making us come full circle like in his one man shows. He is a directionless twentysomething, stuck in an eight year relationship with the charming but bland Abby (Lauren Ambrose) with no plans to marry, and struggling to find stable work as is. What Matt really aspires to do is be a comedian, but his material on stage is slim and his delivery is jittery and brim-full of anxiety. He winds up performing at nearby bars, attracting nothing but hecklers and a mountain of criticism. Upon acquiring an agent from one of his close friends, out of pure desperation, he winds up driving miles away to introduce lip-syncing acts at a college campus. The gig pays about as much as he will for gas up there. When he does get laughs, they come at the expense of his relationship, and the audience seems to be awake and responsive when Matt goes into the details and tribulations that come with a long-term relationship. He states how his girlfriend told him the thing she's most afraid of is losing him to something she can't control. When asking Matt what he is most afraid of he collectively replies, "bears." Mike Birbiglia is a character of true charisma, who could definitely have a long-running career in not only one man performances, but realistic slice-of-life style comedy. The issues he proposes in his own life to his audiences are easily relatable, and his insights are witty and provide us with much of the same warmness we feel when crowded around a group of friends, sharing opinions and ideas. When Matt talks about meeting Abby and falling in what he calls "love," he describes the world "love" as an unlimited amount of the most wonderful things in the world, for him, subjectively, pizza and ice cream. "Love is a mountain of pizza flavored ice cream...and delusion" he then tells us.
Sleepwalk With Me is a wonderful, wholesome comedy mainly because it shows the slow, methodical progression of a struggling comedian battling with his girlfriend, his fear of commitment, the lack of support from his parents, and most of all, his lack of confidence combating with his extreme drive. His only wish in the world it seems is to be able to be good at his passion, and it becomes increasingly hard when his moral support proportions are dwindling and his own life isn't too picture perfect either. But one can turn that around to a positive and say it provides the man with more viable material. Sure as hell beats tired puns on stage at a hometown bar, wouldn't you say? Starring: Mike Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn, and Cristin Milioti. Directed by: Mike Birbiglia.
Dustbuster Olympics
ferguson-611 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Greetings again from the darkness. Today, Mike Birbiglia is a very funny and talented stand-up comedian (check youtube). The movie is based on his real life struggles as a boyfriend/won't-be-husband and young bartender/comedian. The efforts of the comedian honing his craft are much more interesting than watching just another guy who can't commit, but the film does a nice job of blending the two story lines so that it's a bit more relatable.
Mike Birbiglia portrays Matt Pandamiglio. Say that ten times every morning and your verbal dexterity will skyrocket. Matt is in a relationship with Abby (Lauren Ambrose) and he admittedly is not ready to commit to this wonderful woman whom he clearly doesn't deserve. We learn this as he speaks directly to the audience while driving. While Abby drops hints, she remains true and loyal and patient.
Some of the funniest scenes involve Matt's parents, played by Carol Kane and James Rebhorn. Kane just wants her son to be happy (and married to Abby), while grumpy Rebhorn just wants his son to grow up. As Matt and Abby live together and the stress of pending marriage, failing career and adulthood bear down on him, Matt begins to suffer from sleepwalking. It's kind of funny at first, but quickly turns dangerous. A small time gig becomes Matt's break and he ends up hitting the road for an endless stream of minor gigs at clubs and colleges. It's here that he stumbles on comedy gold ... his relationship.
The stand-up style is awkward and clumsy, yet funny ... unless you are Abby. I got a bit frustrated at how little Lauren Ambrose was given to do as the lead actress (and a very talented one), but this is mostly an autobiographical presentation of Birbiglia's real life path. It was interesting to see the group of real comedians give us a peek into the close-knit community of touring comedians. Even Kristen Schaal (Fllight of the Conchords) makes a brief appearance, as does Loudon Wainwright III.
This is an unorthodox movie that still works thanks mostly to the talents of Mike Birbiglia. He was also assisted by co-director Seth Barrish and co-writers Joe Birbiglia (his brother) and Ira Glass from "The American Life". If you enjoy stand up comedy, you will probably find this one entertaining and interesting. (www.moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com)
Mike Birbiglia portrays Matt Pandamiglio. Say that ten times every morning and your verbal dexterity will skyrocket. Matt is in a relationship with Abby (Lauren Ambrose) and he admittedly is not ready to commit to this wonderful woman whom he clearly doesn't deserve. We learn this as he speaks directly to the audience while driving. While Abby drops hints, she remains true and loyal and patient.
Some of the funniest scenes involve Matt's parents, played by Carol Kane and James Rebhorn. Kane just wants her son to be happy (and married to Abby), while grumpy Rebhorn just wants his son to grow up. As Matt and Abby live together and the stress of pending marriage, failing career and adulthood bear down on him, Matt begins to suffer from sleepwalking. It's kind of funny at first, but quickly turns dangerous. A small time gig becomes Matt's break and he ends up hitting the road for an endless stream of minor gigs at clubs and colleges. It's here that he stumbles on comedy gold ... his relationship.
The stand-up style is awkward and clumsy, yet funny ... unless you are Abby. I got a bit frustrated at how little Lauren Ambrose was given to do as the lead actress (and a very talented one), but this is mostly an autobiographical presentation of Birbiglia's real life path. It was interesting to see the group of real comedians give us a peek into the close-knit community of touring comedians. Even Kristen Schaal (Fllight of the Conchords) makes a brief appearance, as does Loudon Wainwright III.
This is an unorthodox movie that still works thanks mostly to the talents of Mike Birbiglia. He was also assisted by co-director Seth Barrish and co-writers Joe Birbiglia (his brother) and Ira Glass from "The American Life". If you enjoy stand up comedy, you will probably find this one entertaining and interesting. (www.moviereviewsfromthedark.wordpress.com)
A bit boring
p_imdb-238-9263808 December 2012
I apologize for the low quality review which follows, I have no time but in regard to the reviews found here, I thought we need something more honest before people go out and watch it.
So, this is nothing you would watch in cinema.
This is more like a movie to watch on a Sunday morning when everybody is lazy and there is nothing of value to do.
The story is a bit boring, and the main character is boring too which comes surprisingly because he actually plays a comedian.
This film is listed as comedy, but we didn't have a single laugh while watching it. The whole movie is really flat, no climax or variation whatsoever. Nobody even tried to follow up to the film after we were done with it.
I am already having a tough time writing something here, as I can't remember something worth mentioning. So overall I think this says enough.
So, this is nothing you would watch in cinema.
This is more like a movie to watch on a Sunday morning when everybody is lazy and there is nothing of value to do.
The story is a bit boring, and the main character is boring too which comes surprisingly because he actually plays a comedian.
This film is listed as comedy, but we didn't have a single laugh while watching it. The whole movie is really flat, no climax or variation whatsoever. Nobody even tried to follow up to the film after we were done with it.
I am already having a tough time writing something here, as I can't remember something worth mentioning. So overall I think this says enough.
The Mundane Made Interesting
gavin694211 January 2013
A burgeoning stand-up comedian (Mike Birbiglia) struggles with the stress of a stalled career, a stale relationship, and the wild spurts of severe sleepwalking he is desperate to ignore.
The story of a rising comic is a story that has been told a few times, and it generally is not all that different from the others. Getting the big break, driving long miles for little pay... it is a hard job, one which rarely pays off. This story, in many ways, is no different.
But what works out here is we not only have a relationship crumbling while a career grows (the typical story), but we also have the journey of a man with a very rare, very dangerous sleep disorder. He could kill himself or his neighbors at any time... which makes for a much more interesting story.
The story of a rising comic is a story that has been told a few times, and it generally is not all that different from the others. Getting the big break, driving long miles for little pay... it is a hard job, one which rarely pays off. This story, in many ways, is no different.
But what works out here is we not only have a relationship crumbling while a career grows (the typical story), but we also have the journey of a man with a very rare, very dangerous sleep disorder. He could kill himself or his neighbors at any time... which makes for a much more interesting story.
SAD but rejoiceful
Expatmic16 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
As much as I could relate to the anguish of our lead character and everyone around him who just seem to irritate him and cramp his style, the film was on the whole sad. Maybe it's too much to expect that a comedic film might have a few lines that actually make you laugh.
My favorite scene was after his gig at the college in Utica. He walks into his room at the cheap motel and starts jumping on his bed. He's thrilled that he actually just got paid to do a show. He's on his way to attaining his dreams however humble they may be. I considered that the films only rejoiceful moment.
The actress playing his agent was a highlight. Any scene with her put a smile on my face.
In any case This American Life is incredible and I am looking forward to any films that they may produce in the future. Sleepwalk is a good start.
My favorite scene was after his gig at the college in Utica. He walks into his room at the cheap motel and starts jumping on his bed. He's thrilled that he actually just got paid to do a show. He's on his way to attaining his dreams however humble they may be. I considered that the films only rejoiceful moment.
The actress playing his agent was a highlight. Any scene with her put a smile on my face.
In any case This American Life is incredible and I am looking forward to any films that they may produce in the future. Sleepwalk is a good start.
Charming and funny
dfranzen7022 June 2013
In the charming, disarming Sleepwalk with Me, a neophyte stand-up comic relates his experiences juggling his burgeoning career with his relationship with his longtime girlfriend and his parents. It's a really thoughtful slice-of-life seriocomedy with a touch of whimsy and plenty of relatability and not the slightest bit as pretentious as it could have been.
Matt Pandamiglio (Mike Birbiglia) tends bar at a hotspot that also occasionally has comics onstage. He's been in a relationship with Abby (Lauren Ambrose) for more than eight years, and she's been hinting strongly at marriage and babies and the like, which has poor Matt a little discombobulated. (Hint: he's not sure he's ready, nor good enough, for that.) He hems and haws and just can't commit. Sounds like a typical dude, right? In a way, sure, which makes Matt all the more like the rest of us. And luckily, because Birbiglia (who co-wrote the screenplay with Ira Glass of NPR) is so, well, normal, the role is imbued with a strong layer of honesty. This is not some glossy Hollywood romcom.
But Matt has an unusual, additional problem: he sleepwalks. Oh, he doesn't just go into another room, sit down, get up, then go back to bed. Matt's walking is much more violent in nature; he is prone to acting out his dreams, which may mean fighting someone (a shower curtain) or even walking repeatedly into a wall. It's disturbing, to say the least, and his father (James Remar), a no-nonsense doctor, insists that Matt see a specialist immediately, as in now. But Matt shrugs it all off, thinking he needs to focus on his career and his girl, and not necessarily in that order.
This is not to say that Matt is a bad guy. He gets a chance at the bar to tell some jokes, and he finds an agent as a result, which soon has him crisscrossing the Northeast US, doing small gigs for actual pay. It's fascinating to see someone so dedicated, driving hundreds of miles to make $100 or so, then driving hundreds more in the opposite direction to make a little more. It's tough work, and only those who truly believe they've found their spot in life's grand scheme will undertake it.
It's only when Matt begins to work his real life into his performances that his career takes a genuinely positive turn, a little fact that he keeps from Abby. Now, his combination of observational humor and relationship woes works very well with his audiences, and he begins to develop a name for himself. But where, you might ask, does that leave Abby?
That is what I liked the very most about this film. Now, bear in mind that this is a comedy more than anything else, so it is practically assured of a happy ending. And it gets one - just not the one you might expect to get. And the ending works. It works emphatically well, a terrific coda to a beautiful, sincere film about a schlub and his art and his girl. Because Birbiglia is so perfect for the role (yes, he wrote it, but how often does that mean he can act it as well), the movie is a by-gosh success. It's a movie without a Bad Guy. It's a movie that doesn't look at a relationship between a man and a woman and ask the audience to choose one for whom to root. Both Abby and Matt are good people (though you kind of wonder what Abby really sees in Matt other than being able to make her laugh); they're just not necessarily right for each other.
Sleepwalk with Me is, indeed, a true sleeper of a movie. It stars an unknown commodity (both as an actor and as a comic) in a movie he wrote himself, often a recipe for disaster. And yet despite those long odds, the movie is compelling and perfectly told, narrated by Birbiglia himself (often speaking into a camera directly as if he were filming a documentary on his life). Are there laughs? There are laughs. There are laughs complemented by poignancy and optimism. Sleepwalk with me is a well-formed, quirky film that's decidedly outside of the cookie-cutter Hollywood milieu.
Matt Pandamiglio (Mike Birbiglia) tends bar at a hotspot that also occasionally has comics onstage. He's been in a relationship with Abby (Lauren Ambrose) for more than eight years, and she's been hinting strongly at marriage and babies and the like, which has poor Matt a little discombobulated. (Hint: he's not sure he's ready, nor good enough, for that.) He hems and haws and just can't commit. Sounds like a typical dude, right? In a way, sure, which makes Matt all the more like the rest of us. And luckily, because Birbiglia (who co-wrote the screenplay with Ira Glass of NPR) is so, well, normal, the role is imbued with a strong layer of honesty. This is not some glossy Hollywood romcom.
But Matt has an unusual, additional problem: he sleepwalks. Oh, he doesn't just go into another room, sit down, get up, then go back to bed. Matt's walking is much more violent in nature; he is prone to acting out his dreams, which may mean fighting someone (a shower curtain) or even walking repeatedly into a wall. It's disturbing, to say the least, and his father (James Remar), a no-nonsense doctor, insists that Matt see a specialist immediately, as in now. But Matt shrugs it all off, thinking he needs to focus on his career and his girl, and not necessarily in that order.
This is not to say that Matt is a bad guy. He gets a chance at the bar to tell some jokes, and he finds an agent as a result, which soon has him crisscrossing the Northeast US, doing small gigs for actual pay. It's fascinating to see someone so dedicated, driving hundreds of miles to make $100 or so, then driving hundreds more in the opposite direction to make a little more. It's tough work, and only those who truly believe they've found their spot in life's grand scheme will undertake it.
It's only when Matt begins to work his real life into his performances that his career takes a genuinely positive turn, a little fact that he keeps from Abby. Now, his combination of observational humor and relationship woes works very well with his audiences, and he begins to develop a name for himself. But where, you might ask, does that leave Abby?
That is what I liked the very most about this film. Now, bear in mind that this is a comedy more than anything else, so it is practically assured of a happy ending. And it gets one - just not the one you might expect to get. And the ending works. It works emphatically well, a terrific coda to a beautiful, sincere film about a schlub and his art and his girl. Because Birbiglia is so perfect for the role (yes, he wrote it, but how often does that mean he can act it as well), the movie is a by-gosh success. It's a movie without a Bad Guy. It's a movie that doesn't look at a relationship between a man and a woman and ask the audience to choose one for whom to root. Both Abby and Matt are good people (though you kind of wonder what Abby really sees in Matt other than being able to make her laugh); they're just not necessarily right for each other.
Sleepwalk with Me is, indeed, a true sleeper of a movie. It stars an unknown commodity (both as an actor and as a comic) in a movie he wrote himself, often a recipe for disaster. And yet despite those long odds, the movie is compelling and perfectly told, narrated by Birbiglia himself (often speaking into a camera directly as if he were filming a documentary on his life). Are there laughs? There are laughs. There are laughs complemented by poignancy and optimism. Sleepwalk with me is a well-formed, quirky film that's decidedly outside of the cookie-cutter Hollywood milieu.
Jumping through a second story window because you think there is a missile trained on your location? Welcome to the life of Matt Pandamiglio
ravechildglasgow5 May 2013
When does sleep walking stop being funny? Fighting a non-existent jackal in the middle of the night is all good fun.
Jumping through a second story window because you think there is a missile trained on your location? Welcome to the life of Matt Pandamiglio, a fledgling stand-up comedian trying to figure out his career, his relationship and his future.
Perhaps it's little wonder that he's struggling with sleep.
Pandamiglio is a thinly veiled alter ego for writer, director and star Mike Birbiglia who has adapted his real life experience for stage, print and now screen.
Independently financed, the film has been impressing audiences at film festivals the world over and is now available to British audiences as a download or to watch online from the official website.
My interest in Birbiglia stemmed from seeing a spark of Woody Allen in his work, so perhaps it's fitting that Sleepwalk With Me is very much his Annie Hall.
The confessional, autobiographical tale is told in New York conversations from Manhattan sidewalks and brownstones.
This is also a love story turned on its head, full of introspection and truthful portrayals of that very particular anxiety felt by ... www.ravechild.co.uk
Jumping through a second story window because you think there is a missile trained on your location? Welcome to the life of Matt Pandamiglio, a fledgling stand-up comedian trying to figure out his career, his relationship and his future.
Perhaps it's little wonder that he's struggling with sleep.
Pandamiglio is a thinly veiled alter ego for writer, director and star Mike Birbiglia who has adapted his real life experience for stage, print and now screen.
Independently financed, the film has been impressing audiences at film festivals the world over and is now available to British audiences as a download or to watch online from the official website.
My interest in Birbiglia stemmed from seeing a spark of Woody Allen in his work, so perhaps it's fitting that Sleepwalk With Me is very much his Annie Hall.
The confessional, autobiographical tale is told in New York conversations from Manhattan sidewalks and brownstones.
This is also a love story turned on its head, full of introspection and truthful portrayals of that very particular anxiety felt by ... www.ravechild.co.uk
a story of an up-and-coming stand-up comedian that uses honesty and humor to create an entertaining, yet still poignant, film
tbmforclasstsar6 September 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Nothing in life is easy, but it seems like stand-up comedy has its own higher level of difficulty. The constant failure. The enormous amount of pressure to be great. The need to persevere and make it work. The ecstasy and joy felt when you get it right. In a lot of ways, stand-up comedy is a lot like love. At least, that's what I got out of Mike Birbiglia's first feature film, Sleepwalk With Me.
Based on his one man show of the same name, Sleepwalk with Me is about his real life relationship with his girlfriend and the beginnings of his stand-up career. Birbiglia plays Matt Pandamiglio, a man who would like to do stand-up for a living, but instead works as a bartender at a comedy club. He's only just moved in with his girlfriend of eight years, Abby, and there's pressure mounting from all sides for him to commit to her in a bigger way. But when his stand-up career begins to blossom with gigs all across the East, Matt has to reexamine what he wants in life, and what that means to the things he already has.
Because it is based on his stand-up show, if you've heard his material before, you'll know what's going to happen in the film for the most part. Does it take away from the impact of the film? Maybe just a little. But not enough to keep the raw emotion and brutal honesty from affecting you. While his stand-up has its more delicate moments, his routine is primarily light-hearted, relatable, and goofy. The film differs in this way, because while it's truly funny and identifiable, the serious moments share equal time on screen. In fact, the sleepwalking sequences, which are nothing but hilarious in his stand-up, have a tinge of sadness in the film since you know how desperate he's feeling about the way his life is going. That's what the film does so well; it provides context to all the stories Birbiglia's told before, allowing them to have a gravity not previously understood.
Another thing Birbiglia does extremely well is show us the inside world of not only stand up comedy, but of the stand up comedian. Very similar to FX's universally acclaimed Louis, this film shows us the not so laugh-out-loud moments of a comedian's life, and how real life problems influence better comedy. It also shows us how beginning stand-up comedians (and even some well established ones) live while they're on the road, drinking beer, eating pizza, watching Mitch Hedburg specials, and sharing stories of their travels. Because it's all based on Birbiglia's experiences, it feels very similar to the documentary The Comedians of Comedy. This shows just how true to life the world Birbiglia has crafted. All of this attention to realism allows Birbiglia's growth as a stand-up to really be appreciated. As his stand-up becomes more personal, it gets funnier, and you feel yourself rooting for him to become the comedian he strives to be.
To read the rest of the review (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/sleepwalk-with-me/
Based on his one man show of the same name, Sleepwalk with Me is about his real life relationship with his girlfriend and the beginnings of his stand-up career. Birbiglia plays Matt Pandamiglio, a man who would like to do stand-up for a living, but instead works as a bartender at a comedy club. He's only just moved in with his girlfriend of eight years, Abby, and there's pressure mounting from all sides for him to commit to her in a bigger way. But when his stand-up career begins to blossom with gigs all across the East, Matt has to reexamine what he wants in life, and what that means to the things he already has.
Because it is based on his stand-up show, if you've heard his material before, you'll know what's going to happen in the film for the most part. Does it take away from the impact of the film? Maybe just a little. But not enough to keep the raw emotion and brutal honesty from affecting you. While his stand-up has its more delicate moments, his routine is primarily light-hearted, relatable, and goofy. The film differs in this way, because while it's truly funny and identifiable, the serious moments share equal time on screen. In fact, the sleepwalking sequences, which are nothing but hilarious in his stand-up, have a tinge of sadness in the film since you know how desperate he's feeling about the way his life is going. That's what the film does so well; it provides context to all the stories Birbiglia's told before, allowing them to have a gravity not previously understood.
Another thing Birbiglia does extremely well is show us the inside world of not only stand up comedy, but of the stand up comedian. Very similar to FX's universally acclaimed Louis, this film shows us the not so laugh-out-loud moments of a comedian's life, and how real life problems influence better comedy. It also shows us how beginning stand-up comedians (and even some well established ones) live while they're on the road, drinking beer, eating pizza, watching Mitch Hedburg specials, and sharing stories of their travels. Because it's all based on Birbiglia's experiences, it feels very similar to the documentary The Comedians of Comedy. This shows just how true to life the world Birbiglia has crafted. All of this attention to realism allows Birbiglia's growth as a stand-up to really be appreciated. As his stand-up becomes more personal, it gets funnier, and you feel yourself rooting for him to become the comedian he strives to be.
To read the rest of the review (IMDb form too short) visit: http://custodianfilmcritic.com/sleepwalk-with-me/
Nice
justahunch-7054912 August 2022
Cute little comedy starring two people I really enjoy, Mike Birbiglia and Lauren Ambrose, who should have had a much bigger film career than she's had thus far. Having said that, this is his show which he also directed and wrote. The small tale of a struggling comic and his relationship with his long-term girlfriend. It's sweet, it's ironically humorous and it has some things to say about relationships. It's a tiny thing and not all of it works, but I liked it.
"Who dis?" (Can't be Burbiglia.... because he's funny.)
pazu711 December 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I've always liked Mike Birbiglia's stand up so I figured this would be hilarious. But it's not. Sorry, Mike. This story works as a routine but transferred poorly to screenplay. Just finished watching so I haven't had a chance to analyze what went wrong, (not that my analysis would matter or even be very good) but outside of a few scenes, which featured his stand up, and a few lines of narration, it was rather boring. Sort of the way that Richard Lewis-type manic self-obsession gets tedious pretty quick. Marc Maron was almost amusing for a second. The opening narration was the best part. The rest is funnier in concept than execution. Anyway, still love Berbiglia... doing stand up, that is.
Thoroughly enjoyable
susannahraulino-348-82343331 December 2012
I enjoyed every minute of this small, honest, personal film. It was what I expected it to be, an uncomfortable trip through an uncomfortable man's psyche as he wrestles with inner conflicts, ambition as a comic, and regular human relationship angst. Completely satisfying. Yes, you probably need a fairly dry sense of humor (mine existent, not reflected here). No, it won't slap you in the face with fall down Dick Van Dyke trip over the hassock comedy. But if you pay attention, it's like being with a person being a person for 90 minutes. Being a likable, funny person. Not a bad way to spend an evening. Also, lots of comic talent in supporting roles and cameos, Carol Kane, John Lutz, and Ira Glass (Glass is also one of the writers and a producer).
For Comedians, By a Comedian (SPOILER)
uwdan1 January 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Oh the trials and tribulations of an up-and-coming comedian. I listen to This American Life and find Birbiglia somewhat boring already, but this story goes too far. Only in America do we celebrate an out of shape and cowardly white guy because he's trying to hone his craft on stage. His beautiful, successful, and goal-driven girlfriend is left in his wake, and his well-meaning parents are treated like jerks.
This movie was bad. Do yourself a favor and avoid it. I am really surprised that WBEZ/Ira Glass/This American Life greenlighted this project because it's so narrow-minded and boring.
One highlight, though; I don't want to be a total negative nancy: the long follow shot of "Matt" as he checks into La Quinta is quite clever.
This movie was bad. Do yourself a favor and avoid it. I am really surprised that WBEZ/Ira Glass/This American Life greenlighted this project because it's so narrow-minded and boring.
One highlight, though; I don't want to be a total negative nancy: the long follow shot of "Matt" as he checks into La Quinta is quite clever.
Pathos Is A Winner
SwollenThumb16 May 2018
Warning: Spoilers
For lovers of stand-up comedy. If you have suffered from sleep disorder you will relate to the main character's dilemma. And then there is the angst he experiences within his long-term relationship. The movie makes you really feel from both sides. I guess what wasn't resolved for me was how his girlfriend in particular came to see his use of his private life in his comedy act. But a movie that gets away with talk-to-camera as well as voice-over narration, neither of which I normally like, is a winner. It's the pathos. (viewed 10/16)
Great cast, good idea, great cameo(?)
Miles-108 October 2017
Good things about this movie:
Lauren Ambrose. Although she makes it harder to understand why Mike does not want to marry her.
Mike Birbiglia. A nice, lovable guy who is also wickedly funny. (More like a naughty kid, maybe?)
James Rebhon and Carol Kane as Mike's parents. They love Mike and because they do they nudge.
Mike is a failed stand-up comic who tells flat jokes and wonders why his comedy career is going nowhere. Then out of desperation he takes lousy offers around the country for very little money, but he learns to use his real life as the basis for his new and improved material - especially exploring his doubts about his eight year relationship with the woman he loves.
Bonus: Because of his sleep-walking problem, Mike starts listening to a book on tape by Dr. Wm. C. Dement on sleep disorders. At one point, Dr. Dement (the real one???) makes a memorable cameo. (Yes, everyone makes fun of Dr. Dement's name, and so does Mike.)
Lauren Ambrose. Although she makes it harder to understand why Mike does not want to marry her.
Mike Birbiglia. A nice, lovable guy who is also wickedly funny. (More like a naughty kid, maybe?)
James Rebhon and Carol Kane as Mike's parents. They love Mike and because they do they nudge.
Mike is a failed stand-up comic who tells flat jokes and wonders why his comedy career is going nowhere. Then out of desperation he takes lousy offers around the country for very little money, but he learns to use his real life as the basis for his new and improved material - especially exploring his doubts about his eight year relationship with the woman he loves.
Bonus: Because of his sleep-walking problem, Mike starts listening to a book on tape by Dr. Wm. C. Dement on sleep disorders. At one point, Dr. Dement (the real one???) makes a memorable cameo. (Yes, everyone makes fun of Dr. Dement's name, and so does Mike.)
Bafflingly awful
jesuitbandit12 August 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I was so shocked by this film because it seemed to come with great reviews and a lot of people singing it's praises. Maybe I don't get Mike Birbiglia's comedy, maybe it doesn't translate on film. Whatever the reasons this is what I thought:
Poor comedian treats his long term girlfriend with total disrespect or honesty and becomes famous, but remains a terrible comedian. The only joke in this film is on the audience for sticking it out.
Indie standards are employed to keep you watching even though it becomes clear after a while that this film is going no where.
The only redeeming character in it is the father, who can be pretty funny at times with his insistent over-fathering.
The character I was most frustrated by was Abby. She goes from being a clearly intelligent, intriguing and honest character to one with little depth or courage. A real shame.
Poor comedian treats his long term girlfriend with total disrespect or honesty and becomes famous, but remains a terrible comedian. The only joke in this film is on the audience for sticking it out.
Indie standards are employed to keep you watching even though it becomes clear after a while that this film is going no where.
The only redeeming character in it is the father, who can be pretty funny at times with his insistent over-fathering.
The character I was most frustrated by was Abby. She goes from being a clearly intelligent, intriguing and honest character to one with little depth or courage. A real shame.
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