‘Is This Thing On?’: Laura Dern & Will Arnett Drive A Bittersweet Stand-Up Dramedy

Is This Thing On? is quietly funny, painfully real, and surprisingly hopeful— a deeply lived-in slice-of-life dramedy rollercoaster that thrives in a messy authentic look at trying to find yourself when the familiar stops fitting.

Bradley Cooper’s third directorial venture, much like his predecessors, is low on spectacle but high on observing, letting real humour and human moments, chockfull of awkwardness at times, carry the story.

Loosely inspired by UK comedian John Bishop’s life, the film follows Alex, a man navigating the slow collapse of his marriage while searching for purpose in the New York comedy scene.

After splitting from his wife, Alex, played by Will Arnett in a rare dramatic turn, signs up for an open-mic night as to avoid paying a bar cover. Slowly but surely, he finds an outlet and talent in comedy, a space to stumble, face personal truths, and slowly find himself, as well as get the attention he’s always yearned for.

Simultaneously, Alex’s wife Tess, played by Laura Dern with signature gusto, grapples with her own identity and sacrifices she made for her family. The couple’s story is far from a melodrama of fiery divorce ala Marriage Story, but rather a gentle, messy navigation of self-satisfaction and possibilities of reigniting connection.

The film leans on performances more than plot, and it pays off in this slice-of-life. Arnett balances vulnerability with sharp comedic timing, making Alex someone you genuinely root for rather than indulgently pity. Dern brings warmth, depth and signature magnetism to Tess, capturing frustration, want and more in all facets, easily flexing her range.

While they might feel like an unusual pair, their chemistry is effortless and charming, you really do buy them as a couple of 20 years who despite all their conflict deeply love and want each other.

The kids add precocious charm, while Cooper reserves a highlight role for himself as Balls (Yes, you read that right.) a perpetually stoned and delusional aspiring actor whose antics provide absurd laugh-out-loud levity.

The stand-up sequences are the film’s narrative backbone. A peek into Alex’s interior as he starts with guarded cluelessness then moves toward confessional material that mirrors his own personal growth. The comedy tiptoes between scripted and lived in, informed by real rooms and real comedians, and its awkwardness and occasional flatness only add to its realness.

Visually, the film embraces Alex’s perspective. Claustrophobic camera work places the audience in intimate, sometimes uncomfortable spaces, reflecting his isolation and yearning for connection.

Cinematography is vibrant and immersive, evoking the intensity of comedy clubs and personal reckoning, while clever transitions keep the rhythm alive.

The pacing lags in spots, and some indulgence creeps in, but the film’s heart, humour, and messy honesty always land. It’s rough around the edges, natural, and quietly funny, giving a grounded look at love, loneliness, and the work it takes to reconnect.

Is This Thing On isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a solid, heartfelt slice of life. It’s touching, funny, and human, with moments that earn laughs, wincing, and hope. Comedy nerds, Bojack Horseman fans, or anyone craving a smart, gentle look at relationships will likely find a lot to enjoy.

Is This Thing On? is in theatres from 2 February.