Is This Thing On? Review: I walked into the theater with pretty mixed expectations. A Bradley Cooper–directed movie about stand-up comedy and divorce? That combo usually sets off alarms for me. Movies almost always get stand-up wrong, and relationship dramas can slide into self-important territory real fast.
Still, Cooper’s track record with A Star Is Born and Maestro made me curious enough to give it a shot. I’m glad I did.
My Rating: 3.5/5
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie Title | Is This Thing On? |
| Director | Bradley Cooper |
| Writers | Will Arnett, Mark Chappell (rewrite by Bradley Cooper) |
| Genre | Drama, Comedy |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | Approx. 110 minutes |
| Starring | Will Arnett, Laura Dern |
| Supporting Cast | Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Kiernan Hinds |
| Story Inspiration | Loosely based on the real-life story of comedian John Bishop |
What Is This Thing On? Is Actually About
This isn’t really a “stand-up comedy movie.” That’s the first thing to understand. Yes, there are open mics. Yes, there’s a stage. But the comedy here isn’t about killing with jokes or chasing applause. It’s about using a microphone as emotional exposure therapy.
Will Arnett plays a finance guy who’s clearly mid-divorce before he even admits it to himself. He’s living alone, his wife and kids are elsewhere, and he’s stuck in that numb, floating phase where nothing is officially over, but nothing works anymore either.
Laura Dern plays his wife, a former Olympic volleyball player who put her own identity on pause to raise a family, and now has to figure out who she even is again.
This Is This Thing On? movie isn’t about who ruined the marriage. It’s about how two decent people quietly drifted apart.
The Stand-Up Angle (And Why It Works)
The stand-up comedy element kicks in almost by accident. Arnett’s character ducks into a bar, signs up for an open mic just to avoid a cover charge, and ends up spilling his guts onstage. No punchlines. No structure. Just raw, uncomfortable honesty.
And somehow… it works. What I loved is that the movie never frames this as a “rise to fame” story. The audience barely matters. The camera stays glued to Arnett’s face. You don’t really hear laughter. You don’t even know if people like him.
Because that’s not the point, this isn’t about being funny. It’s about surviving honesty in public.
Bradley Cooper’s Direction: Smaller, Closer, Better
Bradley Cooper makes a smart shift here. Instead of the big emotional swings of A Star Is Born or the technical ambition of Maestro, this Is This Thing On? movie goes handheld, intimate, almost invasive. The camera sits uncomfortably close to the actors, especially during emotional breakdowns and stand-up sets.
There were moments where I actually looked away from the screen and just listened. It felt less like watching a movie and more like overhearing someone unravel on a bad night. At times, it honestly reminded me of BoJack Horseman—that same quiet, depressive honesty mixed with dark humor and self-awareness.
Will Arnett and Laura Dern: Surprisingly Perfect Together
Will Arnett is doing something I’ve never really seen from him before. Even when he’s technically “doing comedy,” this is not a funny character. He’s awkward, defensive, wounded, and emotionally lost.
You can still hear traces of his iconic voice, sure, but instead of jokes, it carries exhaustion. Laura Dern is phenomenal. She’s warm, frustrated, grounded, and still undeniably magnetic.
You understand exactly why Arnett’s character fell for her, and also why the version of her he married doesn’t exist anymore. The tension between who she was and who she’s become is one of the most honest portrayals of midlife I’ve seen in a while.
Also Read: We Bury the Dead Review: I Thought This Was a Zombie Horror…It Completely Broke Me
One Quiet Scene That Says Everything
There’s a small interlude where a group of longtime friends spend a weekend together. Nothing “important” happens. They set tables. Cut bagels. Pour juice. Someone starts humming a song. Others join in. The harmony builds.
It doesn’t advance the plot at all. But it explains everything about why these people are still connected. That scene alone told me Bradley Cooper trusts silence and trusts the audience.
The Good & Bad In Is This Thing On?
| What Works | What Holds It Back |
|---|---|
| Will Arnett’s deeply grounded dramatic performance | Not a traditional comedy—some viewers may feel misled |
| Laura Dern’s warmth, honesty, and emotional depth | The pacing slows in the middle |
| Authentic portrayal of divorce without blame | Some stand-up scenes are intentionally uncomfortable |
| Intimate, handheld cinematography | Very low-key energy compared to Cooper’s past films |
| Real comedy spaces and real comics | A few subplots could’ve gone deeper |
Why This Is This Thing On? Movie Stayed With Me
What stuck with me most is how fair this Is This Thing On? movie is. There’s no villain. No big betrayal. No single moment where everything goes wrong. Just two people with unmet expectations, bad communication, and emotional blind spots.
The stand-up scenes aren’t about success or failure. They’re about exposure. Watching Arnett’s character bomb, ramble, panic, and slowly learn how to shape his pain into something intentional is uncomfortable, but also strangely moving.
Knowing this is loosely based on a real person who turned to comedy during a divorce makes it hit even harder. This isn’t fantasy reinvention. It’s emotional survival.
Final Verdict: Should You Watch Is This Thing On?
Is This Thing On? isn’t flashy. It’s not loud. It’s not trying to impress you. It’s quiet, messy, and emotionally honest in a way most relationship dramas aren’t brave enough to be.
If you’re expecting big laughs, this probably isn’t your movie. But if you want something intimate, something that feels lived-in and human, it’s absolutely worth watching.
My rating: 3.5/5. This one surprised me. And honestly, those are usually the movies that stick with me the longest.
