Is This Thing On?

I didn't expect the ending at all - and it genuinely made me happy.

Thank you, Bradley, for giving me something hopeful to watch on Christmas night while navigating life after a long, painful divorce. This film reminded me that marriages can evolve, change, and sometimes work in ways we don't expect. I'm grateful for that message. Screw the haters. I look forward to seeing you again in New Hope, you're such a gentleman. Kimberly.

Watching the trailer I noticed something Marvelously familiar in the story line. Just as Midge Maisel found herself bottoming out in life, Alex finds the stage as "nothing left to lose" moment and lets it out. I will have to wait until January 8th or until it comes to town to find out if I shares the same story line as the Marvelous Ms. Maisel.

LIFF39 2025 #6

Comedy can be the most potent therapy for human suffering. No matter how tough life gets, it will always be funny. Comedians and comedic performers understand this deeply: despite life's struggles, the ability to make others laugh during dark times is a special gift for both the audience and the performer. There's nothing else like it.

'Is This Thing On?' explores that journey. It follows Alex (Will Arnett), who initially had no interest in comedy but starts doing stand-up as he faces a divorce and a midlife crisis. One night, wandering the streets, unsure of what he's doing, he enters a comedy club. Only comedians performing on stage can get in free; everyone else must pay. He signs up to perform and takes the stage, sharing his struggles with the crowd, who laugh a little. By the end, the experience lifts his spirits, and something inside him wakes up. He decides to follow this new path and even tries to fix his life. Though he's not as funny as a comedian-something almost every character in the film points out, including family and friends-it doesn't matter in the end. If you enjoy it and it gives you a new sense of purpose, it's not a waste of time or effort.

It wasn't the most exciting film I saw at this year's festival; I didn't think much about it afterward, but there's still a lot to appreciate. 'Is This Thing On?' is Bradley Cooper's third film as a director, and he also has a small supporting role. Compared to his previous two movies, it's the least flashy in terms of filmmaking, but for a story like this, I'm not sure if it needed to be. It's still a well-shot film.

Everyone's acting is the highlight. Will Arnett delivers a strong performance, once again channeling his BoJack Horseman character as a depressed man with complex emotions trying to rekindle his past life. Laura Dern is also excellent here. I mean, it's Laura Dern. What else would you expect from her? Bradley Cooper's character is named Balls, and yes, that is his real name. An eccentric character who pops in and out of the story, and whenever he appears, he's always up to something wacky. He got the most laughs, both from me and the audience.

So yeah, that's about what I took away from it. It's a heartfelt film about self-discovery that explores complex relationships and shows how comedy can save someone's life. Also, change it too. Even in middle age, it's not too late. The arts save lives.

When did marriage vows incorporate the promise of living an inviolable life of happily ever after? It often feels like many of those who enter into such a contract believe that there's supposed to be an inherent entitlement to perpetual wedded bliss, but, as they often discover, that proves not to be the case. So then what? Where do couples who've hit rough patches go from there? For most, it's often separation and/or divorce, but is that really the most effective solution? As this latest offering from writer-actor-director Bradley Cooper illustrates, the trouble may lie with considerations other than a husband and wife's compatibility - and if that issue proves not to be at fault, continued happiness might ensue, and no need for a parting of the ways may be required. Having been married for 20 years, Alex Novak (Will Arnett) and his wife, Tess (Laura Dern), have found their marriage faltering, but they don't seem particularly hostile toward one another. Still, they decide to separate and begin investigating divorce. However, why would they go this route if they don't feel contempt for one another or a lack of chemistry between them, especially given the complex logistics involved in expenses, setting up two households and figuring out how to share custody of their two sons (Blake Kane, Calvin Knegten). Perhaps their difficulty rests more with a lack of personal fulfillment in their individual lives than in the nature of their relationship. And having some time apart may be just the ticket to learning this and finding a way to restore the missing individual satisfaction that has made each of them feel unfulfilled (and thereby affecting the character of their marriage). For Tess, this means exploring the possibility of getting into coaching women's volleyball, a sport she once excelled at herself. And, for Alex, it involves an impromptu stab at stand-up comedy at a New York open mic night, a lark that ends up proving to be a talent he never knew he possessed and that gives him enjoyment, recognition and an informal but viable form of therapy that helps him get his life back on track. Their respective endeavors change the way they see themselves and their relationship. But, since they've publicly proclaimed their intention to part company, what do they do now that they've discovered that their marriage may not be the problem after all? Do they keep up the pretense of separation, or do they bite the bullet and announce that initiating divorce proceedings was a mistake? In that regard, then, the film's title thus becomes an ironic double entendre, one that characterizes the resurgent on-again/off-again nature of their relationship, in addition to a common face-saving observation comedians make about the alleged malfunctioning of their on-stage microphones when a routine appears to be heading south. "Is This Thing On?" provides viewers with not only an intriguing look at the world of stand-up, but also how an impulsive venture might unwittingly help to transform an unsatisfying life into something richly rewarding at a time when such a change is least expected. Its therapeutic nature, coming at a seemingly inopportune time, reveals much that had long been hidden, breathing new life into an undertaking that was nearly (and erroneously) written off for good. And it accomplishes this with a frankness and honesty rarely seen in movies about relationships, both with a partner and with oneself. This is largely made possible by the superb performances of Arnett, who shows off acting chops many of us probably never knew he possessed, and Dern, who turns in yet another signature portrayal, continuing to illustrate the tremendous range she possesses as an actress. It's been disappointing to see this release shut out of awards season consideration thus far, but here's hoping that turns around in the remaining competitions. And, from where I stand, that's no laughing matter.

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.