On Demand Weekly

 

You may have heard Mike Birbiglia tell his story on THIS AMERICAN LIFE on NPR; indeed TAL’s Ira Glass helped co-write and co-produce the film along with Birbiglia’s brother, Joe. You may also be a fan of Mike Birbiglia as a comedian; then you will also know the story because it’s the basis of his stand-up. He also did a one-man show Off-Broadway about it. This is The Ultimate Long Tail. Use it anyway you can. Webisodes, next?

 

If you’re the niche audience for this film, meaning if you’re a middle-class white guy and under 35 and kinda nerdy in that cute-nerdy kinda way, this is for you. I am not the niche audience, not at all, and even with some very wince-able moments, I found this charming, quirky plus it really made me consider that good indie filmmaking is not dead. Not by a long shot. And I prefer to most Hollywood films.

Actor-writer Seth Barrish co-directs with Mike B. For each, a virgin turn at the helm. This is a feel-good, fun guy-project that doesn’t diminish its female characters – they just come off smarter and more together than the guys (thanks, guys!) It’s not super slick with a huge budget, but it is genuine and actually funny. I am certain I’m not the only one who wished there were more movies like this out there. And when you come to think of it, I am surprised that more indies are not spun off stories from THIS AMERICAN LIFE.

The storyline’s not so simple, but is based on Birbiglia’s real life saga. Entering into his early 30’s and still pining to do stand-up professionally, Matt Pandamglio is a bartender who feels his life going nowhere. At his sister’s engagement party, he’s bombarded by family and friends with questions as to why he and Abby (Lauren Ambrose – SIX FEET UNDER, WANDERLUST, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE) his girlfriend of 8 years aren’t married. His parents (Carol Kane –DOG DAY AFTERNOON, HESTER STREET, TREES LOUNGE and James Rebhorn – most recently seen in HOMELAND, also MEET THE PARENTS, SCENT OF A WOMAN) are well-meaning but truly mis-guided in ways to support their late-bloomer son.

Then two things happen and along the way collide. 1- Matt begins to sleepwalk due to erratic, highly dramatic, mercurial dreaming (maybe the shock of potential marriage?!) and 2- a low-rent agent gets him an actual gig, a standup gig out of town, somewhere in the depths of upstate New York. Matt takes off, his career a bit more slowly, until he begins to deal with his own personal issues within his act; a form of self-therapy that proves to be hilarious to us, the audience but makes him realize that, well, there might be need changes ahead in his heretofore less-than-challenging life. In fact, he’s been an avoid-all-challenges type of guy. With the combination of sleepwalking and maybe a real-life dream, his career, about to come to realization, there’s no way to avoid or procrastinate any longer. As his career starts to zoom and he’s driving to one gig after the next, the dreams and sleepwalking get crazier and crazier. Hijinks ensue, as they say.

 

 

Then Matt P. aka Mike B. has to face his own life face on.

 

SLEEPWALK WITH ME (IFC Films)