Sleepwalk with Me

Released:  August 24^th, 2012

Rated:  PG-13

Studio:  IFC Films

Starring:  Mike Birbiglia, Lauren Ambrose, Carol Kane, James Rebhorn, Cristin Milioti

Directed by:  Mike Birbiglia

Written by:  Mike Birbiglia, Ira Glass, Joe Birbiglia, Seth Barrish

Personal Bias Alert:  likes Mike Birbiglia, previously heard the routine the movie is based on

5 of 10

            The circuitous route that Sleepwalk with Me took to getting made is almost more interesting than the movie itself.  An attentive viewer would be tipped off at the beginning, as production credit is given to WBEZ Chicago’s This American Life, a supremely popular public radio program of which I’m a fan.  You see, I and many others first heard an excerpt from this story in a 2008 episode, which later became a one-man play, then a book, and, four years after the radio episode, this movie. 

This American Life is a non-profit organization, hence it generally doesn’t have the money to fund movies.  In fact, it was only possible when the program accidentally came in under budget for 2011.  At the time, they were helping shop Sleepwalk with Me to production companies, something they had done for several other of their stories in the past.  Previous efforts had proven fruitless, so they weren’t asking for much.  A camera, a shoestring budget, and Birbiglia would suffice, so when This American Life suddenly found themselves with available funds, they were able to push the film into production.

            The film isn’t hurt at all by its small budget, largely because the story had evolved from such humble beginnings.  It was always writer/director/star Mike Birbiglia’s story to create and tell, being loosely based on his own experiences with rapid eye movement behavior disorder.  The disorder inhibits his body from becoming paralyzed while sleeping, causing him to act out his dreams.  The episodes can be simultaneously funny and alarming, and Birbiglia’s practiced ability to steer us towards the funny side is indispensable.

            While Birbiglia has a strong grasp on the story, his lack of filmmaking experience shows.  I wish they had paired him with an experienced screenwriter, someone to help him even out the pacing and flesh out some of the characters.  As is, the film lacks structure, with the entire first half feeling like an extended period of setup that isn’t really going anywhere.  Add in that this portion heavily features a pair of cringe-worthily clichéd parents, and I just couldn’t get behind it.  It’s not until Birbiglia finally starts doing something that the film opens up, gaining moment and earning some big laughs.  A seasoned screenwriter probably could have taken this script and hammered it into something more consistent, but instead it seems to have been written by committee, with four rookie screenwriters being given writing credit.

            Birbiglia pulls from his network of fellow stand-ups to fill in small roles, with the biggest star being Six Feet Under’s Lauren Ambrose as his girlfriend.  The assorted cast makes for some great side moments (I particularly liked Kristen Schaal’s character), but it’s up to Birbiglia to carry the film, and he’s simply not up to the task.  His on-camera inexperience shows as he jostles through his close-ups, seemingly not understanding that he needs to give himself more room in the frame if he’s going to move around so much.  That being said, he is funny, and he lands most of the broader, physical comedy moments. 

Birbiglia’s sleepwalking culminates in a weirdly funny incident that is sure to have you laughing.  He’s clearly honed this part of the story to near perfection, and the movie could be worth it for that scene alone.  However, there’s such a wealth of different places to hear Birbiglia tell that story, including for free in the This American Life archives, that watching this entire movie really isn’t necessary.  And that leads me to the crux of my feelings towards this movie:  with the story existing in so many other mediums, was this film really necessary?

Other Notes:

Ø  Yes, I caught the cameo by Ira Glass.

Ø  Here’s a link to the This American Life episode with Birbiglia’s story:  http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/361/Fear-of-Sleep

Ø  A pizza pillow sounded like such a great idea until I saw it.