Is This Thing On?

We have entered the 'dead zone' as of 1-1-26 and although many films are typically not the best that Hollywood has to offer, there can and are some gems thrown into the mix as a treat for hanging in there. Although "Is This Thing On?" is a well directed and acted film, it does need a bit of polish in the writing realm. 

As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex Novack (Will Arnett) faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York stand-up comedy scene while his wife, Tess (Laura Dern) confronts the sacrifices she made for their family, including their two sons, Felix (Blake Lane) and Jude (Calvin Knegten)--forcing them to navigate co-parenting, identity, and whether  love can take a new form.

Others to round out the cast are Andra Day as Christine, Bradley Cooper as Balls, Sean Hayes as Stephen, Scott Icenogle as Geoffrey, Ciaran Hinds as Jan, Alex's dad, Christine Ebersole as Marilyn, Alex's mom, Amy Sedaris as Kemp and Peyton Manning as Laird. 

This was brilliantly directed with subtlety and realism by Bradley Cooper ("A Star Is Born" '18, "Maestro" '23) plus music videos. Assuredly this filmmaker has not an extensive resume behind the camera, however what he has done has been exquisitely directed well including this film. His ability to get his actors to dig deep to find the correct character development in order to convince the audience is second to none. Bradley is an accomplished actor, but with each film he directs, he will be known as an amazing director as well. He also had a co-starring performance in this and was a pivotal character. It was effectively written by Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell, based on a story by Will Arnett, Mark Chappell and John Bishop. All these writers have a fair amount of experience--Chappell having the lion's share, but what they have, especially Cooper is impressive. The premise however intriguing, became a bit convoluted and meandered a bit, but once it found its footing, finally became the story it wanted to be. It was a slow burning epiphany for both Alex and Tess in their respective avenues in which they turned to in order to get on with their lives. Could it be too many writers involved? Not sure, but suffice it to say, it did need some polishing. The premise was certainly fraught with a lot of great fodder for a distinct screenplay, but missed a beat. The direction of Cooper more than made up for the script, and the script wasn't a wash--it just needed more clarity. And they could've used a bit less F-bombs, especially where it was obvious that they weren't needed in several scenes. 

If you're a Bradley Cooper fan, this will appeal, especially if you can appreciate his direction. The direction, acting and photography were first rate, and while these aspects were amazing, the screenplay could've been tighter--but definitely worthy of the price of admission.

Out of 4 Stars: 3                                      Rated: R                                          122mins.