Rating 7/10
Some movies are fastidiously crafted works that announce themselves with a megaphone. Others step up to the mic, clear their throat, and start talking without any preparation. Is This Thing On? is in the latter category. But that’s part of the appeal.
Bradley Cooper directs this mix of comedy and drama with a loose rein. He approaches stand-up comedy not as a series of punchlines, but as a form of confession. The emotional center is Will Arnett as Alex Novak, a comedian reeling from the collapse of his marriage and slowly working through that pain onstage. The material he performs isn’t really that funny in a traditional sense. However, it is compelling for its honesty. Alex talks about his life and lets the truth speak for itself.
Those onstage scenes feel exploratory, as if they’re being shaped in the moment. At times, Is This Thing On? feels improvised. That approach means the movie isn’t always polished, but it is organic.
The backbone of the film is the relationship between Alex and his wife Tess. Laura Dern radiates such warmth. Their scenes together are tender, kind of awkward, but deeply human. These are two people who still understand each other even as they drift apart.
The supporting cast is excellent, too. Christine Ebersole is Marilyn, Alex’s direct mother. Meanwhile, Ciarán Hinds is quieter but no less memorable as his father, Jan. There’s also an unexpected appearance from Peyton Manning playing an ordinary guy named Laird, who briefly dates Tess.
Cooper himself appears in a supporting role as a character nicknamed Balls. The film always keeps its sense of humor. The screenplay, co-written by Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell, is loosely inspired by the life of British comedian John Bishop. The autobiographical influence shows in how genuine these characters are.
This was released in December to qualify for the Oscars. It didn’t garner much fanfare or box office. That’s a shame. This intimate effort may not have the operatic sweep of Cooper’s A Star Is Born or Maestro, but it has the confidence to present vulnerability as a positive quality.
Is This Thing On? is worth stepping into the club for and staying through the entire set.
01-13-26