While it may be disappointing to think, 2016 may be a bit of letdown when it comes to film so far. There have been quite a few near-great movies along the way, but also several major disappoints that letdown both critics and audiences alike. This has especially been prevalent during a summer movie season that can be classified as one of the weakest in recent memory.

Looking at you Suicide Squad

Flying under the radar due to its limited release and grassroots marketing effort, Don’t Think Twice was still my most anticipated film of the summer. The film follows a group of improv comedians, who deal with the consequences of chasing their dreams when a few of the members are selected to audition for a hit TV program.

Unlike so many other films this year that have not meet expectations, Don’t Think Twice not only meets them, but exceeds them. I adored every minute of the film, which is equal-parts hilarious, thoughtful, and heartfelt.

Written and directed by underrated comedian/filmmaker Mike Birbiglia, Don’t Think Twice does a great a job of whisking audiences into the world it creates. Going in knowing very little about improv comedy, the film gives a very personal look into the artform, that is equal parts informative and entertaining.

The heart and soul of this film is its cast. In most ensemble efforts, there will be a few stars that outshine the rest of the cast. Birbiglia, Gillian Jacobs, Keegan-Michael Key, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher, and Chris Gethard all deliver excellent performances as the respective team. While all of them have had experience in comedy, each actor gets the opportunity to show more dramatic and grounded performances. Everyone in the cast has great chemistry with eachother, with the family-like bond feeling very genuine throughout.

That’s not to say the film is not funny, because it's easily the funniest film of the year in my book. Unlike a lot of comedies that build up to certain setpieces, all of the humor just springs from very naturalistic conversations. Birbiglia shows an incredibly deft hand at comedy, with the humor being quite clever throughout.

What I credit Birbiglia most here is making a film that is incredibly honest with its characters and themes. At times, the characters here can be self-centered and often times make rather heartbreaking decisions. However, this added a layer of authenticity that is missing all too frequently in film these days. The way the characters develop feel very naturalistic, with each getting their fair share of time to grow onscreen.

Don’t Think Twice is mostly about the chase for both art and commerce. While the characters are often vindicated by nailing a performance, the foreboding idea of failure often sinks often in their heads. The script does a nice job of showing versatility in the characters, with each dealing with their own individual problems in trying to make it in the comedy scene, from a character dealing with making it big to others dealing with possibly needing to move on.

Even for people who have never performed comedy, the themes here are very universal. As someone who wants to become a film journalist, I am faced everyday by the waning amount of careers in the field, but also the great amount of joy I get from writing articles. Relating strongly to that struggle, the film emotionally stuck me on a personal level throughout.

Always rooted in a deep sense of authenticity and emotional heft, Don’t Think Twice is the rare comedy to properly blend the balance between drama and comedy. It’s an incredibly relatable and earnest effort, one that audiences will easily fall in love with. I can not recommend the film highly enough, and I hope all of you give it a look when it comes to a theater near you!

Rating: 10/10