Is This Thing On? (2025)

Is This Thing On? (2025) is a small scale character study about a man dealing with separation and emotional stagnation by throwing himself into stand up comedy. The film is written and directed by Bradley Cooper, known primarily for A Star Is Born and Silver Linings Playbook, and this feels like his attempt at something quieter and more introspective. The tone is subdued and personal, sometimes to the film’s advantage, but often it feels hesitant and unsure of what it wants to say.

Will Arnett, best known for Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, stars as the recently separated father and also helped write the script. Arnett is solid and believable, leaning into a restrained performance rather than his usual comedic extremes. His stand up scenes feel intentionally awkward, which works thematically, but they rarely land as either funny or revealing in a meaningful way.

Laura Dern, known for Marriage Story and Jurassic Park, plays the ex wife and is intentionally written as exhausting and difficult. She commits fully, sometimes to the point of irritation, but it feels like a choice rather than a flaw in her performance. The problem is that the character lacks balance, making their dynamic feel one sided and emotionally repetitive.

Andra Day, who impressed in The United States vs. Billie Holiday, is unfortunately underwritten here. Her character exists almost entirely to check a box and create mild friction, and she comes off more as a nuisance than a meaningful presence. It is unclear why the role was written this way, especially given her proven ability to bring depth when given real material.

Overall, Is This Thing On? feels personal but bloated. There are moments of honesty and vulnerability, but the film never quite digs deep enough to justify its premise. Strong performances cannot fully overcome the thin character writing and muted emotional payoff. Result: B

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