'Is This Thing On?' Review: Bradley Cooper's Heartfelt and Fresh Spin on the Divorce Comedy
Bradley Cooperâs third feature, Is This Thing On?, is smaller in scope and grounded in sensibilities, but his attention to romantic affection might be larger than ever before. Itâs crazy to say that this is a divorce comedy â one that's based on British comedian John Bishopâs life experiences in 2000, when he lucked himself into doing stand-up for the first time while he and his wife were briefly separated, but framed as a contemporary NYC flick. Compared to his previous fare, this is where I found Cooper tapping into his David O' Russell (NOT THE ABUSIVE PART, NOT THE ABUSIVE PART) side, evoking the grounded nature and bizarre camera choices of Silver Linings Playbook to put a fresh and meaningful spin on the divorce movie.
Image copyright (Š) Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
MPA Rating: R (for language throughout, sexual references and some drug use.)
Runtime: 2 Hours and 04 Minutes
Language: English
Production Companies: Lea Pictures, Archery Pictures
Distributor: Searchlight Pictures
Director: Bradley Cooper
Writers: Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett, Mark Chappell
Cast: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, CiarĂĄn Hinds, Scott Icenogle, Chloe Radcliffe, Jordan Jensen, Peyton Manning
U.S Release Date: December 19, 2025
After 25 years of marriage, the NY suburban middle-aged couple, Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess Novak (Laura Dern), quietly call it quits. This disorients Alex more than ever. He moved into his own apartment in Manhattan and is learning how to co-parent their twin sons while they are separated. While aimlessly wandering one night, Alex tries to go into The Comedy Cellar but doesnât want to pay the cash cover charge. So, he writes his name down on the open mic list to bypass the fare (which is so real). Upon his first time in the limelight, he feels the spark of comedically voicing his inner discontent on stage. Alex's new hobby excites him, and he rediscovers his passion and spirit, which impacts his and Tess's new relationship status.
Is This Thing On? is a fresh new spin on the divorce comedy.
Will Arnett and Laura Dern in IS THIS THING ON? Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Jason McDonald, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Š 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
Is This Thing On? builds itself as a divorce comedy, and itâs the starting point of the narrative. But Cooper, who has proven time and again that he loves dissecting the inner core of a relationship and its functionality, gives himself a new challenge in taking something that seems broken and fixing it anew. The script penned by Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett, and Mark Chappell details the point of middle age where the impassive self-discontent affects others. Itâs what separates Tess and Alex. The narrative, along with the frank, funny, and vulnerable dialogue, conveys this effectively throughout their arc. The two had such a long marriage that Tess' best friend is literally Alex's mom (Christine Ebersole), as she and his dad (CiarĂĄn Hinds) live right next door to them. Though the film is primarily framed in Alex's perspective, it provides a story for both parties. Cooper cares about Tess as a co-lead, and her struggle to break new ground in the separation is developed well.
Alex, in his own right, is intriguing in that he lacks any significant character beyond the "nice guy suburban dad" stereotype. His days of having an identity are long gone. Thereâs nothing like a sad Will Arnett, but thatâs usually in animated films and never seen onscreen in live-action form. He's simply sublime, evoking middle-aged depression in his performance from the very beginning, dissociating at his kidsâ school assembly and depressingly moseying around Manhattan. Arnett camouflages into Alex's character so well that you forget heâs naturally a funny guy, as Alex flails and fails upward in his comedy pursuit. That first-time stand-up set is painful, and you feel every ounce of pressure, cringe, and second-hand embarrassment. There are areas of his comedy environment portrayal that I found frustrating, but Cooper's direction nails the pain of being an open mic'er, especially for the first time. This is coming from someone who dabbled in that realm for a few years (a few recognizable pals of mine appear in this film).
Arnett's portrayal is nothing without Laura Dern, who is equally as exceptional. Tess, a former fierce volleyball player who retired to be a suburban wife, was understandably depressed, and this affected her marriage. Her self-resentment affects how she views Alex. In an early scene, Tess and Alex gather with their longtime friends, Christine (Andra Day) and her theater actor husband Balls (a standout and hilarious Bradley Cooper), and Stephen (Sean Hayes) and his husband Geoffrey (Scott Icenogle). Tess discusses the desire to feel alive, and Alex believes sheâs speaking negatively about him. Dern textures her character with grounded realness because she's fucking Laura Dern; she can turn water into wine.
When together, Arnett and Dern are immaculate. Their layered chemistry captures the complexities of having a long-term relationship fizzle out. The emotions they share are passionate, making their discussions of the intricacies of their marriage lively, entertaining, and sometimes smoking hot. It's like the antithesis of other divorce comedies, as you hope these two find a way back to each other.
Bradley Cooper's camerawork and approach to navigating the comedy world are flawed.
Will Arnett in IS THIS THING ON? Photo by Searchlight Pictures/Jason McDonald, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. Š 2025 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.
On the Silver Linings Playbook Blu-ray, there's a bonus feature of Cooper playing with a steadicam, all up in J.Law's grill. I swear, that's his directorial style in Is This Thing On?, which is rather disorienting. Stand-up comedy itself is already a lot of pressure, but Cooper and frequent DP Matthew Libatique (who makes a cameo as an open-mic comic and is actually funny) capture it with such tight steadicam close-ups that it's often annoying. I understand that the goal is to enforce intimacy and realism, yet the writing and performances already do a fantastic job at that. The visual style Cooper chooses comes off as cloying and distracting. Theyâre the same issues I had with Silver Linings Playbook â that and the overall generalization of the filmâs environment. Speaking of whichâŚ.
I am truly mixed on Is This Thing On?'s depiction of stand-up comedy. It's great for the narrative how comedy serves as a conduit for Alex to build a backbone and eventually better the relationship between him and Tess. However, they create a fantasy-like atmosphere in the comedy scene, transforming it into a welcoming utopia for all. Everyone is just buddy-buddy with everyone, no social hierarchy, and no FuckTony influence (try to go to Comedy Cellar today; you'll get a lot of right-wing comedy right now) to the point that there are ample scenes of Alex being shepherded under the wing of other comedians. The first time he gets booked, it's between Dave Attell and Sam Jay. The general audience won't get things like that, yet for me, its fantastical depiction ruins part of the practicality of the atmosphere.
Final Statement
All in all, Bradley Cooper's Is This Thing On? is a heartfelt and sincere romantic comedy that explores the themes of aging and the hobbies that help us find our better halves again, all of which is fueled by the exceptional screen chemistry between Will Arnett and Laura Dern.
Please consider supporting Rendy Reviews. Weâre an independent run, Gen-Z and Black-owned entertainment outlet. You can donate to our Paypal or Venmo to help keep our site running. Or become a subscriber for access to 13-years worth of reviews, exclusive interviews, and more! A free way to support is a sign up for the Rendy Reviewsâ newsletter and get weekly emails about latest on movie reviews, interviews with film artisans, features, and more.
