Is This Thing On?

“I think I’m getting a divorce.”

Heartfelt, humorous and sincere, Is This Thing On? takes inspiration from the life of stand-up comic Josh Bishop, as Bradley Cooper seeks to explore the breakdown of a marriage, and the launch of a comedic opportunity with wonderfully warm performances from Will Arnett and Laura Dern in a genuine exploration of the power of art to express, and the nuance of being happy with people yet unhappy with life. 

Discussion Points:

Bravo to Bradley Cooper for crafting such an authentic and human and raw film about the power of art and humour to help us process and heal during times of hardship. This is a really strong change of style for Cooper as he flexes behind the camera with naturalistic closeups and handheld intimacy. The result is an atmosphere that’s genuine, engaging, present and lived in. And that’s further elevated by Will Arnett and Laura Dern who bring earnest natural chemistry to a fracturing marriage that still contains two people who care for each other but have lost the spark. The screenplay is a beautiful blend of solid stand-up that gets better as the film progresses from awkward embarrassing bombs to genuine funny bits and emotional catharsis as we see Arnett and Dern’s Alex and Tess examine their relationship and where it may go. Really loved this beautiful, funny and tender film and would love to see Arnett in more dramedies and I can’t wait to see what Cooper directs next.