By George & Josh Bate
With his two previous directorial efforts, Bradley Cooper showed the world he is just as, if not more, capable behind the camera than he is in front of it. A Star is Born and Maestro were technically excellent films that bolstered intense physical performances from Cooper and stirring narratives about genius, possibly larger-than-life characters. But some could lodge that these films were too grandiose and inaccessible as they focused on complex characters who ascend to the apex of the industry (mirroring, to many, what Cooper himself was trying to do in earning awards for his work). With his latest effort Is This Thing On?, Cooper trades in the ostentatious for a far more intimate, smaller scale, and approachable movie that, despite its lack of novelty, proves inspiring and moving.
Loosely based on the life of Liverpool comedian John Bishop, Is This Thing On? begins as Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern) agree to amicably end their marriage. As Alex struggles with navigating his new, lonelier way of living, he impulsively chooses to participate in an open mic at a comedy club. Much to his surprise, Alex finds the experience enjoyable and even cathartic, leading him to pursue stand-up comedy more seriously.
Sitting at just over two hours, Is This Thing On? takes a little while to get going, but, like the journey Arnett’s character undergoes, things kick into gear once Alex dips his toe into the world of stand-up comedy. The story chronicling the postmortem of a fractured marriage is one seen in countless films before, with parallels to the likes of Marriage Story particularly striking throughout. But what Cooper’s film lacks in novelty it makes up for with powerful, nuanced performances and some hard hitting emotions that really sneak up on you.
Is This Thing On? doesn’t mask its intentions as it is clear from the get-go what story Cooper is trying to tell. The lead character we’re introduced to is broken and solemn, withered away by years of complacency and lack of communication in his marriage. When he stumbles upon stand-up comedy though, a breath of fresh air is ushered into his life, one that allows him to finally enjoy himself and almost therapeutically cope with the end of his marriage. Much of the film sees Arnett’s Alex nervously detail intimate aspects of his marriage and family in front of a crowd at a comedy club, with Cooper enhancing the anxiety of the moment by honing in tightly on Arnett’s face and employing subtly disorienting handheld camerawork. The audience gets to feel Alex’s anxiety as he tries something bold and new, but also gets to relish in the catharsis that he experiences when he successfully uses humor as an outlet to process his pain. As a result, the stand-up scenes are as uncomfortable as they are funny and, ultimately, a joy to watch as we’re given a front row seat to watch a genuinely good man heal.
This genuinely good man works well as a protagonist and effectively anchors the film due to a brilliant performance from Will Arnett. The actor known for his more comedic turns in 30 Rock and Arrested Development takes on a decidedly different challenge here. Gone are the actor’s trademark bombastic performances and baritone-voiced loud, quirky line deliveries; instead, Arnett portrays Alex with a rawness and deep relatability. In keeping with the character’s development over the course of the film, Arnett initially plays Alex as solemn, almost subdued, but, over time, sees his performance expand as his character taps into long-buried emotions. Arnett intelligently never goes too big with his emotional expressions, leaving much of his work to subtle changes in his eyes and face that had us on the verge of tears on a number of occasions. It’s superb work from Arnett, who shows that he is just as capable of headlining a contemplative drama as he is a witty comedy.
The other side of the broken marriage is brought to life by a similarly nuanced performance from Laura Dern. After taking more of a backseat for the first half, the Academy Award winning actress becomes more prominent after a tense and extraordinarily executed pivotal scene midway through the film. From then on, the story takes a number of turns as it toys with the idea of Arnett’s Alex and Dern’s Tess repairing their marriage. It’s through Arnett and Dern’s conversations and Arnett’s subsequent moments of introspection and remorse that Is This Thing On? truly strikes an emotional chord. There’s certainly emotions resonant throughout the film, but the power with which they hit and move really creeps up in the final act. Although the culmination of this final act may feel a bit easy, it nonetheless caps off a moving, albeit straightforward, journey that lingers with you after viewing.
Unfortunately, detracting from this journey along the way are various moving parts that could have been trimmed for a more streamlined, well-paced story. Cooper gives his scenes quite a bit of room to breathe, which often does him in favors in allowing the subtleties of Arnett’s performance to really seep in. However, on more than one occasion, scenes drag on far too long with little discernible person or take a while before getting to more meaty subject matter. This issue becomes most apparent in scenes featuring Alex and Tess’ friends, played by Andra Day, Sean Hayes, Scott Icenogle, and Cooper himself. A subplot involving the marriage of Cooper and Day’s characters never quite takes off, nor does a thread about Day’s character’s resentment toward Alex. In turn, these scenes feel cumbersome and deprive the audience of more time with Arnett and Dern, who are the heart, soul, and focal points of this story. One of the few side characters to genuinely compel is Alex’s father, played with extraordinary warmth and compassion by Ciarán Hinds.
VERDICT: 8/10
Is This Thing On? sees writer/director Bradley Cooper trade in the grandiose for a far more intimate, smaller scale, and accessible movie. Chronicling the postmortem and possible reconstruction of a fractured marriage without glitz or glamour, Cooper’s latest inspiringly highlights how the greatest crises in life can give way to true catharsis. The film takes a while to get going and doesn’t break any new narrative ground but works as a solemn, grounded story with a strong emotional backbone that really sneaks up on you in the second half. Will Arnett delivers a nuanced and commanding lead performance, showing he’s just as capable of handling heavy drama as he is witty comedy. Laura Dern also excels with a similarly nuanced performance, while, with little screentime, Ciarán Hinds shines with a warm and compassionate supporting role. With Is This Thing On?, Cooper crafts his most approachable, relatable, and subtly powerful film to date – an inspiring, well-intentioned, and moving journey destined to break your heart and warm it back up again.