There’s something a little bit different about Is This Thing On? – the new film from Bradley Cooper starring Will Arnett (Arrested Development). On paper, it sounds like a story we’ve seen before. Middle aged guy. Failing marriage. Existential wobble. But in the hands of Cooper and Arnett, it turns into something far more personal and unexpectedly moving.
Arnett plays Alex Novak, a suburban dad whose marriage ends not with fireworks but with a quiet, painful conversation. His wife Tess, played with steady warmth by Laura Dern, isn’t cruel or dramatic. She’s just done. That low key realism sets the tone for the whole film.
Instead of spiralling completely, Alex stumbles into stand up comedy. Not because he’s chasing a dream, but because he needs somewhere to put the mess in his head. The open mic scenes are awkward, sometimes painfully so, but that’s the point. Watching him bomb, recalibrate and slowly figure out what he actually wants to say becomes the emotional spine of the film.
What works best here is the honesty. The divorce isn’t turned into a villain story. No one is cartoonishly awful. It’s just two people who’ve grown apart. That feels far more relatable than dramatic shouting matches or big betrayal reveals.
The comedy itself is dry and self aware, very much in Arnett’s wheelhouse. There are proper laugh out loud moments, but the humour mostly lands in the uncomfortable silences and half truths. It feels lived in.
The film does take its time. If you’re expecting big twists or a neat Hollywood ending, you won’t get it. Instead, you get something closer to real life. Progress is uneven. Growth is slow. Sometimes the win is just getting back up on stage the next night.
Is This Thing On/ isn’t flashy. It doesn’t beg for awards attention. But it sticks with you. It’s about finding your voice when you’re not even sure what you want to say anymorre.
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