Is This Thing On?
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (out of 5 stars)
After the sweeping musical tragedy of A Star Is Born and the monumental biographical ambition of Maestro, Cooper’s latest directorial effort deliberately scales things down. Is This Thing On? is a smaller, more intimate film that’s loose, observational, and emotionally attentive, taking inspiration from the life of stand-up comic Josh Bishop. Rather than chasing grandeur, Cooper turns his attention to the quiet devastation of relational breakdown and the unexpected ways art can emerge from pain. It’s a film less concerned with spectacle than presence, and all the stronger for it.
Alex (Will Arnett) is a struggling middle-aged man whose life is quietly unravelling. Recently separated from Tess (Laura Dern), a thoughtful and emotionally perceptive woman, Alex finds himself increasingly disconnected from his sense of purpose, and from any clear vision of the future. That is until he stumbles into a comedy club open mic night and inadvertently ends up on the stage list. After an awkward but promising impromptu set, Alex decides to explore the world of comedy as an outlet for his personal struggles. Meanwhile, Tess navigates her own grief, trying to reconcile love for a man who still makes her happy in moments, with the reality that their life together no longer does.
The result is a film that is heartfelt, humorous, and deeply sincere. Is This Thing On? is a gentle but piercing exploration of the strange tension between relational happiness and existential dissatisfaction. Cooper resists easy answers or dramatic blow-ups. Instead, the film sits with discomfort. It observes the small moments: the half-finished conversations, the shared glances that carry more history than hope, the routines that once felt comforting but now feel hollow.
Will Arnett delivers one of the best performances of his career. Known largely for comedy, he brings a raw vulnerability to Alex that never feels showy. His early stand-up scenes are especially effective because Cooper allows them to be genuinely awkward. These aren’t movie-perfect routines; they’re painful, embarrassing, and recognisably human. As Alex grows, so does the comedy—not just in laughs, but in emotional clarity. Humour becomes a tool for truth-telling, confession, and eventually, catharsis.
Laura Dern is equally remarkable. Tess is not written as a foil or obstacle, but as a fully realised person whose pain is just as valid as Alex’s. Dern plays her with warmth, intelligence, and restraint, capturing the heartbreak of loving someone who still brings joy, even as the life you share with them becomes unsustainable. Their chemistry is tender and believable, grounding the film in emotional reality.
Visually, Cooper adopts a naturalistic style that prioritises intimacy over polish. Handheld camerawork and close-ups create the sense that we are eavesdropping on real lives rather than watching a constructed drama. There’s an unforced authenticity to the film’s rhythm, as though scenes are allowed to breathe and end before offering emotional resolution. It feels lived-in, present, and quietly honest.
Bravo to Bradley Cooper for crafting such an authentic, human, and emotionally raw film about the power of art and humour to help us process hardship. This is a striking change of style that shows real growth behind the camera. Elevated by two extraordinary performances and a screenplay that understands both comedy and grief, Is This Thing On? is beautiful, funny, and tender. It leaves you with a deeper compassion for the complexity of happiness and a quiet hope that honesty, even when it hurts, can still be redemptive.
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Reel Dialogue: Learning to Be Unhappy with People Who Make You Happy
One of the most striking ideas Is This Thing On? wrestles with is the reality that happiness in relationships does not always align with happiness in life. Alex and Tess still care for each other. They still laugh. They still share history and affection. And yet, something essential is missing.
Cooper’s film gently reminds us that the human heart is restless, longing for more than even the deepest human love can provide. This tension at the heart of the story mirrors a Gospel truth: human relationships are gifts, but they cannot fully satisfy. Alex’s turn to comedy isn’t a rejection of marriage; it’s a cry to be known, a desire to express the longings of the soul. Laughter becomes lament, and the awkward, imperfect stand-up scenes reflect the beauty and brokenness of life.
Through this, the film gestures toward ultimate restoration. Our deepest longings point us toward God, who alone makes the soul whole. Human joy is real and precious, but only in Christ is it complete. Cooper’s heartfelt, intimate storytelling reminds us that art, humour, and honest expression are not just survival—they are glimpses of grace, invitations to see our longing and pain redeemed.
