Will Arnett delivers an amazing performance in Is This Thing On?, and Bradley Cooper’s latest film is a hidden gem exploring heartache and laughter.
Best known for his acting antics in the Hangover films, Cooper has started to showcase his directing talents, beginning with 2018’s A Star is Born.
He followed up his Oscar-winning collaboration with 2023’s Maestro, but it is his latest work, Is This Thing On?, that has Film News Blitz’s Joe Matthews pleasantly surprised.
From Divorce to Dialogue: Will Arnett in ‘Is This Thing On?’
Is This Thing On? follows Alex and Tess Novak as they try to navigate their way through divorce, and then single life in their late-40s.
Alex, a burnt-out accountant played by Arnett, finds himself feeling somewhat lost after the split, and stumbles into an open-mic bar, putting his name down to perform in place of a $15 entry fee.
And despite being perhaps a little rough around the edges, he manages to mould his pain into witty self-deprecating stand-up, helping him through the worst of it.
Very quickly, he is taken in by the local group of comedians and given tips to help him hone his craft, all without his ex-wife, played by Laura Dern, knowing.
Similar to his struggles, Tess finds herself looking back at the life she used to live, including representing the United States in the Olympics as a volleyball player, and coming to terms with who she is now.
A humble opening
Without reports of a large budget, this charmer saw a fairly quiet release overall.
Nevertheless, it has grossed around $10 million worldwide so far, and the film’s teaser trailer, released in late August last year, has surpassed a staggering five million views on YouTube.
Will Arnett & Laura Dern: The heart of ‘Is This Thing On?’
Arnett and Dern both put in beautiful performances, capturing the nostalgia and dwindling excitement of midlife crises to a tee, with the leading man standing out with an award-worthy performance.
The former voice of the animated Bojack Horseman delivers on stage as a nervy novice comedian, and his relatable stoicism in the face of discomfort makes us feel as though we are watching a friend on screen.
Similarly, Laura Dern, who has shown her class in the likes of Little Women, Blue Velvet and, of course, Jurassic Park, also puts in a brutally realistic performance, drawing us into the room with her on several occasions.
Ultimately, it feels as though a lack of ‘in-your-face’ branding has meant that Is This Thing On? has largely gone under the radar, but that doesn’t take away from a plethora of impressive performances, and I would certainly implore the hopeless romantics amongst you to go out and see it for yourself.
READ NEXT – Film news: ‘Wuthering Heights’ initial reactions are HOT off the press
