Sleepwalk With Me - B

Not Rated, 85 minutes

Birbiglia makes for a genuinely fresh, pleasant "Sleepwalk"

Lauren Ambrose and Mike Birbligia

Breakouts don't happen very often, but I forsee a nice career for likable comedian Mike Birbligia, who directs, writes and stars in the casually amusing autobiographical film "Sleepwalk With Me," about a struggling comedian making sense of his life. Low-key and appealing, "Sleepwalk With Me" is based on Birbligia's (also seen in HBO's "Girls") book and one-man stage play of the same name, which in turn are based on his own life. Birbligia plays a struggling, early 30s guy trying to figure out his life. He bartends and does occasional stand up at club and lives with his girlfriend of several years, Abby (the lovely Lauren Ambrose of "Six Feet Under"), though he's encouraged by his parents (James Rebhorn and Carol Kane) to do more with his life, not to mention he struggles with a sleep disorder that causes him to do unusual things. He finally gets a break and starts doing stand up full-time, giving a little balance to his career, though he's still unsure of his future with Abby. Birbligia is the perfect schlubby every man, who like many comedians, infuses his own life experiences into his onstage act; he's genuinely fresh and charming without the level of obnoxiousness that you often find in comedy these days. Birbiglia's best when being himself onstage or interacting with other characters but "Sleepwalk" doesn't work as well when he breaks the "fourth" wall and talks to the audience. It's a gimmicky move often used when the material is thin, and it typically doesn't work, and it particularly falters for a newcomer like Birbligia. "Sleepwalk" is probably better suited for the small screen, which Birbligia could easily transition to in the vein of Louis C.K. Even with its flaws, I liked "Sleepwalk With Me" and it showcases what could be a breakout performance from a genuinely agreeable and engaging comedian.