Sleepwalk With Me (2012)

100% of critics liked it
(11 reviews)
91% want to see it
(256 ratings)

"I'm going to tell you a story, and it's true....I always have to tell people that." So asserts comedian-turned-playwright-turned-filmmaker Mike Birbiglia directly to the viewer at the outset of his autobiographically inspired, fictional feature debut. Birbiglia wears his incisive wit on his sleeve… More "I'm going to tell you a story, and it's true....I always have to tell people that." So asserts comedian-turned-playwright-turned-filmmaker Mike Birbiglia directly to the viewer at the outset of his autobiographically inspired, fictional feature debut. Birbiglia wears his incisive wit on his sleeve while portraying a cinematic surrogate. We are thrust into the tale of a burgeoning stand-up comedian struggling with the stress of a stalled career, a stale relationship threatening to race out of his control, and the wild spurts of severe sleepwalking he is desperate to ignore. Based on the successful one-man show, Sleepwalk With Me engages in the kind of passionate and personal storytelling that transfigures intimate anguish into comic art. Produced and co-written by Ira Glass (NPR's This American Life), Sleepwalk With Mefeatures a stellar supporting cast that includes Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under), Carol Kane (Taxi), James Rebhorn (Meet the Parents), Cristin Milioti (30 Rock), and a sampling from the who's who of today's stand-up scene.

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Mike Birbiglia
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 24, 2012 Limited
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Duane Byrge, Hollywood Reporter
Crowd-pleasing comedy from stand-up Mike Birbiglia.
Peter Debruge, Variety
An endearing indie feature about the day-to-day indecisions and nocturnal perambulations of a commitment-phobic New Yorker.
Monica Castillo, Boston Phoenix
This is an adorable film based on the story of a comedian struggling to break through in the business while bartending in a comedy club.
Fred Topel, Crave Online
Birbiglia's take on relationships is irreverent, which makes it better than the usual guy complaining about his pretty fiancé movie.
Kenji Fujishima, Slant Magazine
Charming and occasionally insightful.
Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com
Birbiglia has a very matter-of-fact charm about him and gives the simplest of observations wonderfully sardonic weight.
Kate Erbland, Film School Rejects
A thoroughly enjoyable and engaging film.
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE
This storytelling isn't particularly intriguing, but Birbiglia's charisma carries them with a personable brand of self-deprecation.
Don R. Lewis, Film Threat
Sleepwalk With Me very much reminded me of a take on High Fidelity with comedians instead of music snobs.
Katey Rich, CinemaBlend.com
With a sure visual sense despite a clearly limited budget, and most importantly a rock-solid understanding of storytelling, Birbiglia crafts a romantic comedy that's utterly unique, but also satisfying in a primal, familiar way.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
Sleepwalk With Me is as charming as it is winningly modest, but it's so incredibly slight a stiff wind would knock it into a different hemisphere.