- Will Arnett leads Bradley Cooper’s intimate comedy about a separated father who finds solace in stand-up.
- Laura Dern adds emotional depth as the film charts a civil but quietly painful breakup.
- Stand-up scenes and a supportive comic community lift a film that favors small moments over big drama.
Bradley Cooper’s low-key take on separation and stage life
Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On? centers on Alex Novak (Will Arnett), a man navigating a recent separation who discovers a surprising refuge in stand-up comedy. The film avoids melodrama, opting instead for a sunlit, low-stakes portrayal of a family reconfiguring itself. Cooper directs with restraint, letting performance and close observation carry the emotional weight.
Will Arnett’s understated turn
Will Arnett, best known for sharp comedic turns, shifts registers here. He plays Alex with a soft, numb vulnerability — a man who must relearn how to be seen. Under Matthew Libatique’s tight close-ups, Arnett’s face becomes the primary instrument: small flickers of regret and longing register more than any grand speech. The result is a surprisingly moving lead performance that anchors the film.
Laura Dern as the film’s emotional counterpoint
Laura Dern plays Tess, Alex’s soon-to-be ex, who quietly rebuilds a sense of purpose. Dern brings the familiar precision she’s known for, conveying a character whose calm surface masks complicated feeling. A brief scene where she watches Alex on stage captures that blend of recognition and distance — a look that says as much as pages of dialogue.
Stand-up as therapy, not spectacle
The film leans into the idea of comedy as catharsis. Alex’s first steps onto an open mic are awkward and honest, and the club scenes pulse with real comic energy. Supporting players — including Amy Sedaris as an MC and a handful of working stand-ups — give the movie authenticity and warmth. The script, loosely inspired by the life of British entertainer John Bishop, doesn’t over-explain the therapeutic angle; it shows it.
Tone, pacing and small moments
Running two hours and four minutes, the film is measured rather than urgent. It privileges scenes of quiet domestic negotiation and small indignities of modern separation over plot-driven conflict. That choice occasionally leaves the drama feeling too safe, but it also allows the actors’ subtleties to breathe. Moments of sharp humor puncture the calm, reminding viewers that the movie is a comedy first and a tearjerker second.
Where to see more
The movie includes a few notable cameos — among them a surprise appearance by Peyton Manning — and a supporting turn from Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds as the Novaks’ hands-on parents. For context on tone and close-up acting, the review references an iconic Nicole Kidman close-up from Jonathan Glazer’s Birth (opera scene): Watch the clip on YouTube.
Is This Thing On? may not take big risks, but it proves effective when it trusts its performers. Will Arnett’s move into quieter, more reflective work pays off; paired with Laura Dern’s steady intensity, the film becomes a gentle, humane study of how laughter can become a lifeline.
Image Referance: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/movies/is-this-thing-on-review.html