This thing is on.
“Is This Thing On?” follows Alex, who finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene, while his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices she made for their family, as the couple faces middle age and an impending divorce.
A Raw Portrait of Collapse
Director Bradley Cooper crafts a story that is hilarious, depressing, heartfelt and relatable.
The actors do a lot of heavy lifting within “Is This Thing On?” Will Arnett (Alex Novak) and Laura Dern (Tess Novak) deliver two of the best performances of 2025.
Arnett is a master at delivering awkward comedy – with the perfect amount of stuttering and pauses to make his humorous style feel natural. At the same time, he is also able to bring emotions to the screen. Arnett is at the heart of “Is This Thing On?” and he doesn’t shy away from this. It’s a commanding performance that deserves more recognition.
Dern is also impressive. She effortlessly makes Tess feel like a real person through her laughter, frustrations, tears and anger.
Arnett and Dern are the reason that “Is This Thing On?” works. Their chemistry – or lack thereof – is natural. And it needs to be in a movie like this. Because of their battling characters, the pair brings the central relationship into reality. Their performances alone will likely generate a response from viewers.
Cooper (Arnie) is a scene stealer. He constantly generates laughs, playing a clumsily amusing persona. He isn’t attempting to outshine Arnett or Dern, but rather provide moments of levity. His performance is refreshingly unimportant.
“Is This Thing On?” takes a slow approach, gradually building its way up to the dramatics. It takes time to examine these characters’ psyches, quite literally throwing the audience right in the middle of their situation.
Comedy as Coping
Rather than falling into clichés, “Is This Thing On?” offers an honest portrayal of divorce.
Comedy is often a healing tool for people. In this film, it’s used to highlight the complexities of love and marriage. “Is This Thing On?” takes negativities and turns them into laughs. This type of humor won’t work for everyone, but it’s inherently real.
Sometimes it seems like life is throwing endless curveballs at you. Through Alex, the audience is able to hear a different perspective. It’s funny and devastating to listen to, often at the same time.
The visuals in “Is This Thing On?” aren’t flashy. But they’re effective. The film utilizes handheld camerawork and minimalistic editing to deliver its message.
Composed of fragments, “Is This Thing On?” doesn’t show every single detail. Like in the real world, you’re hearing characters remember how a conversation went or how a fight ended. There’s beauty within this approach.
At times, it seems like “Is This Thing On?” is stalling. Except, it’s not. The film always finds a way to pay off its arcs in captivating ways. It’s messy and doesn’t always flow – by design.
“Is This Thing On?” perfectly balances the good and the bad. Navigating the complexities of marriage, it’s both funny and uncomfortable. Much like life itself.
Rating: 5 out of 5
