The new movie by director Bradley Cooper focuses on a man dealing with divorce, depression, and his struggles to find happiness in his life. After his marriage seems to fall apart, the man initially finds himself lost and aimless, but eventually discovers an outlet not only to express himself but also to learn more about why his life is in the state it is. Will Arnett stars in Is This Thing On?, and I must say I have never seen a performance from the talented actor that is more powerful or emotional.
Arnett stars as Alex Novak, a husband and father of two sons struggling to keep his life and marriage afloat. After fighting constantly and reaching no agreements, Alex and his wife Tess ultimately decide to separate and consider divorce. During their time apart, Alex finds himself searching for a way to express himself creatively. On a whim, he decides to attend an open mic night at a comedy club, where he soon finds himself going on a regular basis. Though he struggles initially, there is something cathartic and soothing about mustering the courage to talk about his life and put a comedic spin on it. Through discussing his life struggles on stage, Alex finds a way to better process what has happened to him and his wife, despite their genuine love for each other.
Since Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star Is Born, I have known that the actor-turned-director has the talent and skills to helm multiple movies. Though his second film, Maestro, is inspired and shows more range, it doesn’t succeed as well as his freshman film. With Is This Thing On? Cooper scales things down to a much more intimate level, and this level must be a comfort zone, because this third movie works so much better than Maestro. I was impressed by how well he and his crew have created intimate scenes that are exciting and powerful, and quite immersive for the audience.
It literally makes one feel like a fly on the wall, watching the drama and comedy of the lives involved. It also helps that Will Arnett gives a hauntingly beautiful, vulnerable turn as the protagonist. I was also very pleased with Laura Dern’s performance as Alex’s wife, Tess. The two share some incredible and beautiful scenes together that feel genuine and true to life.
I will say that many of the themes and subject matter are familiar, and nothing is particularly original, but Cooper and his team knew how to spin them in compelling, creative ways. Is This Thing On? is currently in a theatrical run but will eventually be available to stream on Netflix.