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First came an adaptation of a well-loved musical starring Lady Gaga in the leading role. Next came a stylish biopic about conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein. Actor turned director Bradley Cooper’s newest directorial effort, titled Is This Thing On? is a dramedy based on the life of British comedian John Bishop. As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she’s made for the family – forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form. His lightest movie yet, but also one of his most human, tender, and heartfelt, Is This Thing On? boasts hearty laughs, great performances, and a much-needed softer take on relationship breakdown.
Whilst the plot is centered on an individual discovering the joy and healing powers of stand-up comedy, there is also a lot to be said about divorce, mental health, co-parenting, and more. Cooper balances these themes really well, applying equal attention to both in order to fully develop any ideas introduced. The stand-up scenes are absolutely hilarious, and we get plenty of them to help keep us entertained and laughing along. What makes these sequences all the more special is the boost they give our lead character, Alex. We all find solace in something different when going through heartache, and his discovery of stand-up is not only touching to watch but a very unique story that doesn’t feel familiar. Juxtaposing this humor with an intimate portrayal of divorce may sound a little mismatched, but Cooper pulls it off effortlessly.
Is This Thing On? Will Arnett and Laura Dern bring warmth and wit to Bradley Cooper’s most heartfelt film yet.
The divorce between our two leads is one of the most amicable we’ve ever seen on screen, and this is actually quite a refreshing approach. Instead of enduring screaming matches and custody battles, we watch the pair navigate co-parenting, strong feelings for each other, and the gravitational pull that still looms between them. Sure, we see the grim side of divorce, especially on Alex’s side as he moves out of the family home and loses his way in places, but it never becomes too spiky between the pair. And even when it does, the love is still present, due to excellent dialogue and fantastic chemistry. This is a change of pace for Cooper, and he pulls it off.
Will Arnett (The Lego Batman Movie) in the leading role as Alex may just deliver his best work to date. It certainly allows him to show his range more than prior projects, as he aces both the stand-up sequences and the more emotional side of his character nicely. Arnett’s Alex is a great father, a kind man, and once he gets going with his comedy, a very dedicated comedian who wishes to excel and achieve. It’s rare to see a character brought to the screen that is utterly hilarious yet equally emotional, and Arnett really does nail it.
Starring opposite as wife Tess is Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), who is as impressive as ever. An ex-volleyball player who gave up her astonishing career early, Tess lives with lots of regrets despite loving being a mother, and believes her husband may be more in love with the old her than who she is now. Dern and Arnett have exceptional chemistry; their love story is entirely believable, and due to how nice both of their characters are, they are so easy to root for. Of course, Bradley Cooper gives himself some screen time as Tess and Alex’s comedic-relief friend Balls, who delivers much hilarious dialogue, and Andra Day (The Deliverance) stuns as his wife Christine.
As funny as Cooper’s character Balls is, he does feel a little tacked onto the plot here. Whilst he certainly has a place in both A Star is Born and Maestro due to starring in the leading role, it’s easy to wonder whether he would’ve been best left out of things this time. His humor does provide many laugh-out-loud gags, but it doesn’t always fit the tone of the remainder of the script, and it often feels like a way for him to still participate cast-wise. Furthermore, as sweet as the plot is, Is This Thing On?
Can’t help but feel a little simplistic and trite. It’s still a fantastic addition to Cooper’s filmography and continues to showcase his range and talent as a director, but it doesn’t quite match the masterful impressiveness of his prior two films. Is This Thing On? is perfectly serviceable, and many audience members may even consider it great. Still, with an awkward side character in Balls, an ending that relies too much on a needle-drop to pack the intended punch, and perhaps a little too elongated run-time for the story being told, it may not be his best of the three.
Bradley Cooper brings John Bishop’s life to the big screen in an entertaining, fun, and touching way. Despite being a simplistic story, the themes explored and the characters developed make it feel larger than life. Arnett gives his best work yet; the script balances hilarity with heart, and Cooper adds another solid directorial effort to his growing filmography.
Grade: B
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Is This Thing On?
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene while Tess confronts the sacrifices she made for their family—forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether love can take a new form.
