Bradley Cooper’s third film as writer-director, Is This Thing On?, premieres with a story centred on a divorced man who finds new purpose in stand-up comedy. Will Arnett stars as Alex Novak, a depressed man who stumbles into open-mic nights to dodge an entry fee, only to discover a transformative outlet.
To prepare, Arnett performed stand-up five nights a week for six weeks across New York clubs. He described the experience as “jumping off a cliff,” with some sets succeeding and others bombing. One night, he killed at one club only to face silence at the next, with Cooper’s laughter the only response.
The film continues Cooper’s recurring theme of how performance affects personal relationships. In A Star Is Born and Maestro, similar moments of vulnerability during live acts spark love. Here, Alex’s ex-wife Tess (Laura Dern) rediscovers her feelings after watching him perform. Cooper noted, “artistic expression requires a vulnerability that reveals something deeply human.”
Laura Dern said the film taught her about relationships as “ever-evolving organisms.” Alex and Tess reconcile by pursuing their own passions – comedy for him, basketball for her – highlighting growth as a key to connection.
