Movie review
July 22, 2016 · 92 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Don't Think Twice is a 2016 comedy-drama written and directed by Mike Birbiglia. It follows a close New York improv comedy group called the Commune as they face losing their performance space and watch one member land a big TV job on a Saturday Night Live-style show. The story looks at how ambition, jealousy, and changing friendships affect the six members in everyday ways. No clear political, identity, or social-justice messaging stands out in the plot, dialogue, or marketing.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Don't Think Twice.
Woke representation / casting
The actors have varied backgrounds that fit a real New York improv scene naturally. Keegan-Michael Key plays a key role without any forced emphasis on race or identity. No signs of quotas or signaling.
Woke political dialogue
The story has no political talks, activist lines, or ideological speeches. Characters discuss jobs, envy, friendship, and improv rules only.
Identity-driven story themes
The main ideas are about personal ambition, group loyalty, and handling success or failure. No arcs tied to race, gender, or social justice.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The film shows mild tension between staying true to improv art and chasing TV money, plus the group losing its cheap space to higher rents. These feel like practical life struggles, not activist attacks on capitalism or other systems.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. This is an original story with no changes to known characters or history.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No backlash, complaints, or debate called the film woke or agenda-driven. Reviews stayed on comedy life and feelings.
Creator track record context
Mike Birbiglia avoids politics in his work. Most producers have quiet indie careers with little activist history. One has taken a progressive stand on reproductive rights outside this project, but the team overall shows no pattern of identity-driven or activist projects.
