Sleepwalk With Me is a little indie film that you’re likely only to have heard of if you’re a fan of stand-up comedian Mike Birbiglia. This is sort of his baby, being a movie that he’s written, directed, and starred in, and one that chronicles his life experiences. It’s an intensely personal story that shows some of the hardships that Birbiglia was facing when he was younger, and it’s this depth of personal experience that makes Sleepwalk With Me as good as it is.

There are three main parts to this story. The first is a chronicle of how Mike Birbiglia got started out as a stand-up comedian. The movie provides a detailed journey of how he started out bombing at 5 minute sets in local bars, to how he ended up developing his craft a bit more. The second part involves the story of his long-term eight-year relationship at the time, and how that inevitably dissolves as Birbiglia’s other problems begin to mount. Finally, we get to see where the title of the movie comes into play, as we witness how Mike went through a really rough time during this whole experience. He winds up becoming a heavy sleepwalker, and not just in that “haha he’s lumbering around” sort of way. He was seriously acting out the dreams he was having, to the point where it became life-threatening for him.

The movie tells a really interesting story, and I think that’s its greatest strength. I think that you can always tell when a story is coming from a genuine place, because it just has that personal touch that you can’t replicate 100% in fictional stories. I’m sure there are some elements of this that are fabricated or exaggerated just like any other “true story” on film, but that never takes away how personal and meaningful this story is for Mike Birbiglia.

I know that I keep mentioning how this is a personal story for Mike Birbiglia, so you might have the misconception that the movie will be lost on you if you aren’t familiar with the creator. Luckily, this isn’t the case. I think that this is a movie that anyone can watch and appreciate, but rather that the experience will only be heightened if you’re a fan of Birbiglia. I always enjoy him in his stand-up specials, and so I love his presence here on screen. I also want to give a shoutout to Lauren Ambrose, who plays Mike’s girlfriend in the movie, because she was one of the main characters on my all-time favorite TV show (Six Feet Under), and so I always like getting to see more of her. She owns the role in this. Anyway, I don’t want to act like Sleepwalk With Me is some grand masterpiece that reaches cinematic heights, but it is a really great movie that feels incredibly intimate.

4/5