Is This Thing On? Review: Bradley Cooper’s Funniest Movie
Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On? is a warm, funny, and surprisingly moving look at the ways people grow apart and sometimes find themselves again in the process. After the emotional weight of A Star Is Born and the technical ambition of Maestro, Cooper’s third directorial effort feels like a deep breath: a lighter, looser, and more heartfelt comedy-drama about love, reinvention, and the delicate art of moving on.
At its center are Alex and Tess Novak, played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern. After years of marriage, the two have amicably decided to split. There’s no dramatic explosion or bitter betrayal; we just have two adults quietly realizing they’re no longer the same people they were when they met. They’re still friends, still co-parents, still navigating the same circles of friends, but the romantic connection has faded. What follows is a series of funny, awkward, and poignant moments as they figure out how to exist separately while still being tethered together by love, memory, and two young sons.
Arnett, who co-wrote the screenplay with Cooper and Mark Chappell, gives one of the best performances of his career. His Alex is a man processing emotional pain not through tears, but through laughter. When he impulsively signs up for an open mic at a comedy club, something clicks. The stand-up scenes become the emotional core of the film. They’re therapeutic, painful, and often hilarious explorations of heartbreak and self-awareness. It’s the perfect role for Arnett, who pulled off a similar “sad humor” in his voice role as BoJack Horseman.
The genius of Cooper’s direction lies in how these locations are filmed. Shot in intimate closeups and long, unbroken takes, the camera captures every twitch of Alex’s face, every nervous breath before a punchline lands. It’s an approach that turns the comedy stage into a kind of confessional. Arnett’s delivery—dry, self-deprecating, sometimes trembling with vulnerability—transforms ordinary anecdotes into little revelations. At first, his jokes are awkward and meandering. But as he gains confidence, his performances evolve, mirroring his emotional growth off-stage.
It’s a wonderful surprise to see Bradley Cooper take a supporting role here, especially as the goofy Arnie, a struggling actor and Alex’s loyal best friend. Arnie is the kind of character who might’ve been a punchline in a lesser film, but Cooper plays him with warmth and comic timing that never feels forced. After two heavy, Oscar-contending performances in his last directorial outings, it’s refreshing to see him step back and just have fun (even if he’s currently been nominated for 12 Oscars and won zero). Cooper feels like a filmmaker and performer who has nothing left to prove, and that confidence seeps into every frame.
There’s a looseness to the filmmaking that feels distinctly New York. Shot on location in Greenwich Village, much of the film unfolds around the comedy clubs and cafés near MacDougal Street. I went to college in the area and can confirm the countless times people have advertised “live comedy” shows on that block. You can feel the authenticity in the way Cooper captures the atmosphere. For anyone who’s spent time in that part of the city, the film feels lived-in and real, with Cooper incorporating NYC restaurants familiar to him like Bar Six.
Laura Dern, as Tess, gives the film its emotional grounding. While Arnett’s Alex works through his pain with humor, Tess processes hers more quietly. Dern brings a tender realism to the character. She’s not bitter; just tired, nostalgic, and a very different person from who she used to be. Their scenes together are some of the film’s strongest. There’s a heartbreaking simplicity in the way they talk. There’s arguing, lingering chemistry, and a reminder of what once was.
What makes Is This Thing On? such a joy to watch is its balance of tone. Cooper never lets the humor undercut the emotion, and he never lets the emotion drown the humor. The laughs come naturally, often from the uncomfortable honesty of the characters’ situations. But beneath the wit, there’s an unmistakable sadness—a recognition that sometimes, growing up means growing apart. Still, the movie never feels bleak. Its message is ultimately one of acceptance: that endings can be beginnings, that humor can heal, and that love doesn’t always disappear just because it changes shape.
As a director, Cooper shows remarkable versatility here. He handles both the chaotic group scenes and the quiet, introspective moments with equal confidence. It’s his most relaxed and humane film yet, and it suggests a director interested less in proving his skill than in exploring human connection in all its messy, funny, beautiful forms. The narrative starts out very simplistic, but it gets better and more interesting as it goes on, even if some may find the whole affair predictable.
By the time the credits roll, Is This Thing On? has evolved from what seems like a simple midlife comedy into something genuinely moving. It’s a story about self-expression, forgiveness, and the bittersweet comedy of life after love. It’s not flashy or grandiose. It’s honest, warm, and funny in ways that stick with you long after the last laugh. Bradley Cooper has already proven he can make great, serious films. With Is This Thing On?, he proves he can make a great, funny one, too.
SCORE: 8/10
As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 8 equates to “Great.” While there are a few minor issues, this score means that the art succeeds at its goal and leaves a memorable impact.
Disclosure: ComingSoon attended the New York Film Festival for our Is This Thing On? review.
Source: Comingsoon.net