Is This Thing On?

Life imitates art in the third film with actor Bradley Cooper in the director’s chair. Loosely based on the life of English comedian John Bishop, Is This Thing On? offers an extremely humorous but gently profound take on break-ups, separation and reckoning with what happiness actually entails.

The movie stars Will Arnett as Alex Novak, a middle-aged man who works in the vague land of “finance”, as he deals with a mutual and mostly amiable separation from his wife of 20 years. Confronted with an inevitable loneliness from being excavated from his partner, his children and his home, fate has him stumbling into a bar and onto a stage, mic in hand, sharing the new realities of his life. The screenplay, co-written by Cooper, Arnett and Mark Chappell, seeks to explore a common element of stand-up comedy, whereby many comics choose to use their own lives as material and cannon fodder for jokes. It is a way for them to break down their experiences, analyse them and turn them into humour, often self-deprecating but sincere and genuine. For Alex, stand-up presents itself as a form of therapy and a way for him to process what is going on in his life.

Arnett is no stranger to comedy. His dry wit and distinctive baritone voice have granted him comedic roles in TV shows such as Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, and as the character of Batman in the LEGO movies. Here, he delivers a brilliantly rendered performance that is full of charisma and warmth. Arnett’s characterisation of Alex also feels undeniably authentic, and when he speaks, the audience can visually see the anguish behind his eyes and feel the pain within his laughter. The stand-up scenes feature numerous well-lit close-ups which, aided by the performance of Arnett, immediately foster a sense of vulnerability and intimacy, making it hard not to be charmed by Alex’s character; an ingenious decision by Cooper and cinematographer Matthew Libatique. 

Laura Dern is terrific as Alex’s wife, Tess, as she addresses her feelings of ennui about the current direction of her life and an earnest desire for career fulfilment. Additionally, the supporting turns by Andra Day, Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds are equally fantastic. Following A Star is Born and Maestro, both of which had Cooper at the director’s helm and in a leading role, Cooper takes a step back here, and the project greatly benefits from him playing a supporting character. His scenes are limited but are among the most memorable within the film.

To its benefit, Is This Thing On? doesn’t try to make the audience choose sides, nor does it offer a particularly unique perspective on relationships or midlife reflection, but the writing is honest and without pretence, and the performances are heartfelt and engaging. It is easily Cooper’s best movie to date, and a sign that he is certainly finding his rhythm behind the camera.

Sunny Morgan

Is This Thing On? is released on 30^th January 2026.

Watch the trailer for Is This Thing On? here: