Is This Thing On?

Synopsis: Facing middle age and an impending divorce, Alex finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene, while his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices she made for their family. 

Movie Review: 

"Is This Thing On?" directed by Bradley Cooper marks his third film as a director. This new original dramedy is funny, relatable, and charming, featuring a fantastic performance by Will Arnett. I really appreciated how the movie portrayed the realistic journey of becoming middle-aged and going through a divorce in a way that was both sad and healing, making it delightful to watch. Will Arnett plays Alex Novak, a middle-aged man facing divorce who discovers a new purpose in stand-up comedy. His performance is meaningful, charming, and relatable, appealing to both young and old audiences. I loved how Bradley Cooper directed this film, especially with the long tracking shots through the New York subway and the authentic depiction of stand-up clubs and relationships, which added to the film's realism. Laura Dern plays Tess Novak, Alex's ex-wife and a former volleyball player who has lost her sense of purpose. Her performance is incredible, heartbreaking, and emotional, making her my favorite part of the movie. Although Bradley Cooper directed it, he also has a small role as Arnie, Alex's best friend, who is a down-on-his-luck actor. He brings a lot of humor and some of the funniest moments in the film. However, I found his presence a bit distracting since he was just playing himself, which made it feel like anyone could have taken on that role. The movie does run a bit long and could have benefited from being shorter. Overall, "Is This Thing On?" is a charming comedy with two outstanding performances that are relatable and showcase strong chemistry between the leads, making it another success for Bradley Cooper. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Director: Bradley Cooper 

Cast: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper, Christine Ebersole, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris, Chloe Radcliffe, Scott Icenogle, Jordan Jensen with Peyton Manning and Ciaran Hinds 

Runtime: 121 Minutes