Is This Thing On?

I am a big fan of Laura Dern as an actress from films like "Smooth Talk", "Blue Velvet", "Wild at Heart", "Rambling Rose", and "Jurassic Park". And I like Bradley Cooper from "Silver Linings Playbook" and "American Hustle".

Now they are both in the new movie "Is This Thing On?" directed by and co-written and co-produced by Cooper. The movie stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a married couple with two young sons who are separating.

The Will Arnett character starts getting involved with doing stand up comedy. Bradley Cooper plays an actor who is a friend in a supporting role.

The movie is engaging and enjoyable and very well acted by the entire cast. The cinematography by Matthew Libatique, who was nominated for an Oscar for "Black Swan", "A Star is Born", and "Maestro" is very good. I liked this movie very much. Very much worth seeing.

I was really looking forward to this. A depressed stand up comedian is a nice premise, usually a solid mix. It feels grounded in realism from start to finish.

I attended a Q&A screening, where I learned the film is partly based on the true story of a British comedian. That point was mentioned almost defensively like, "if you think this isn't realistic, you're wrong because it actually happened!" But honestly, the story never felt fabricated at all. It already felt authentic and didn't need to be defended. The start of Alex's comedy career reminded me of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel".

Bradley Cooper also shared that Arnett spent time performing real stand-up sets at the Comedy Cellar to prepare and the stand-up scenes were filmed in front of real, non-actor audiences which keeps the raw, uncomfortable energy.

As someone who watches a lot of stand up, I loved how many real comedians were cast. Instead of just one or two, the film is packed with actual New York stand-up regulars like Chloe Radcliffe, Jordan Jensen, and Reggie Conquest. I even recognized bits from some of their real routines, which added so much to the authenticity.

On the dramatic side, the cast is excellent. And despite the premise, this isn't really a movie about stand-up comedy. Alex actually works in finance; so this is a story about divorce, identity, and self-discovery through art, with stand-up as the vehicle rather than the destination.

It didn't feel like watching a movie, felt like observing people's lives. The film offers an intimate look at a marriage unraveling without slipping into melodrama. It's a warm, introspective dramedy. I didn't laugh much though; instead, I found myself invested in the characters. Ironically the funniest moment wasn't a joke onstage, it was the dog wandering out scene.

One potential point of debate is whether the stand up routines themselves are funny. Early on, the awkward, unfunny sets felt very true to what beginner comics actually sound like. While it might've been nice to see a truly killer set by the end, it also makes sense that we don't, Alex is still early in his journey. He's not a polished comic yet.

Unlike comedy films that fast track success or center around seasoned comics, this one focuses on the drudgery. It portrays stand up as therapy, and where bombing is part of the process. That realism really worked for me.

The film also feels deeply New York. It feels nice to recognize the spaces and the overall vibe. It avoids a glossy, romanticized version of the city and instead opts for something scrappier and more lived-in. Large portions were shot at the Comedy Cellar and the Olive Tree cafe just there.

Will Arnett gives a vulnerable, grounded performance as Alex, and the chemistry between him and Laura Dern is the emotional backbone of the film. Their dynamic feels painfully real, sad and authentic. Every character feels carefully crafted and fully lived in, which makes some scenes tough to watch because felt real.

I really loved this movie. It made me appreciate Bradley Cooper as a director more, I'm mostly indifferent to him. Made me more inclined to revisit his stuff as a director.

"Is This Thing On?" is a new film directed by Bradley Cooper and Cooper also plays a relatively minor role in the story. I saw it at the Philadelphia Film Festival yesterday.

Alex and Tess (Will Arnett and Laura Dern) are married but they are separating. Neither seems to have that much reason to separate other than, perhaps, boredom. However, Alex copes with this in a strange way. Instead of seeking therapy, he decides on a lark to do standup comedy! As for the wife, she copes by returning to her first love, volleyball.

So why did I give this one a paltry five? Well, two main reasons. First, Arnett is supposed to be doing standup and people like his act...but the act has barely a laugh in it at any time! They really needed to get a comedian to punch up Arnett's act and it just doesn't make sense why anyone would want to see it. In contrast, the very first episode of "The Marvelous Miss Maisel", the main character was freaking hilarious the first time she did standup! Second, the characters are all people I either strongly disliked (Alex, Tess, their extended family and friends) or was completely ambivalent towards (the gay couple and the kids). It;s a real shame, as the message that EVENTUALLY comes out in the film is an important one...that folks in a marriage might just need to focus on a hobby or avocation which gives them satisfaction, not just expecting their spouse to provide this. Overall, it sure seems like a film which could used a bit of a re-write and I can't see going to the trouble of seeing this in theaters...more a film to watch on Netflix or some other streaming service...if at all.

Enjoyed this one a lot. It's relatable, genuinely funny, and leaves you in a good mood.

Loved that they shot the stand-up scenes in front of a real audience; it gave the whole thing a raw, lived-in feel.

The ending, though, totally missed the tone and felt disconnected from the rest of the movie. Will Arnett absolutely nailed his role.

I'm convinced Bradley Cooper is becoming the new Oscar-Bait filmmaker because it shows.

What Cooper offers is a very strong performance from Will Arnett and Laura Dern, yet, a predictable, cheesy, and basic narrative and concept, that doesn't really offer anything new to the core of comedy-drama. First thing is first, Cooper's direction on the atmosphere, presentation, and style, is mostly okay. The presentation is acceptable, there are some solid humor moments, and has some nice colors presented throughout. Having loved Arnett's vocal performances on Bojack Horseman, Arnett's performance was pretty good, as his personality and dynamics were the best aspects about the movie.

Unfortunately, as a whole, the narrative, as mentioned, is predictable. Each moment whether on it's humor dynamics, writing, and the concepts feel slim, cheesy, and follows pretty much most basic and non-creative comedy-drama. Beat per beat, which makes each moment too easy to follow, and easy to guess. The characters, were quite unlikable. Unlikeable characters can be well-written and engaging if they are given more depth and personality, unfortunately, Cooper offers little to nothing to the characters, which makes it a little difficult to believe them nor engage with their conflicts, and dynamics.

The musical score feels cheap, and there are some pacing aspects that feel a bit too slow. The dialogue feels clunky. As at times, there are some good dialogue moments between characters, and at the same time, some of them felt off-putting, weird, and fake.

Overall, Cooper, once again, just made another okay movie. Sadly, his remake of A Star Is Born and Maestro are pretty much good examples of Oscar Bait, and here, once again, comes another.