There is plenty to see at the cinema this December. With flashy awards contenders, sequels, and big-budget movies vying for your attention and hard-earned dollar, Is This Thing On? is flying quietly under the radar despite the involvement of some big names, specifically award-nominated director Bradley Cooper and Oscar-winner Laura Dern. A solidly smart and sly adult drama about the demise of a marriage, Will Arnett gives what might be the best big-screen performance of his career.
Alex (Arnett) and Tess’ (Dern) marriage is falling apart. Though their split is mutual, the two are just starting to figure out what a life without each other truly looks like. On the wrong side of middle age, Alex is desperate for a new purpose in life. While stand-up comedian might not seem like the obvious answer, Alex finds himself accidentally thrust into the literal spotlight of the New York comedy scene. Meanwhile, Tess, a former Olympic volleyball athlete, is reckoning with the sacrifices she made in her career in order to raise a family.
It seems strange that a film with Cooper behind the camera and Dern in front of it isn’t getting as much attention as it deserves. Perhaps because Hamnet is stealing the spotlight in a crowded awards race, Is This Thing On? feels somewhat lost in the shuffle. It’s a shame, because it’s truly one of the more solid dramas audiences can treat themselves to this year. And as the awards season conversation intensifies, this is a film that deserves to be discussed.
Cooper, working from a script he co-wrote with Arnett and Mark Chappell based loosely on the story of British comedian John Bishop, drops viewers directly into the character-driven action. It’s a refreshing take on a marriage—one where it’s not necessary to see the events leading up to the collapse, but picks up just as Alex and Tess are getting to the “well, what next?” stage. Cooper is aware that it’s a clever way to grab viewers’ attention. Their relationship is treated like some good gossip. You can almost imagine the conversations among the characters’ social circle – “Did you hear about Alex and Tess? What happened? They seemed happy!” Rest assured, answers to those questions will come to light, though without any earth-shattering revelations. There is no big “aha!” moment to be had, and Is This Thing On? is all the better for it.
Admittedly, it’s hard not to hear Arnett’s voice and immediately think of any number of his signature characters, be it LEGO Batman, BoJack Horseman, or Gob Bluth. But faster than you can say “I’ve made a huge mistake,” Arnett slips seamlessly into what feels like a very lived-in character. And no wonder, since the actor sat with the script for seven years before it made it to theatres.
At times, the script, much like life, feels chaotic. But it all works in the film’s favour. Neither marriage nor divorce is a neat and tidy thing, and Is This Thing On? nails that tone with ease. It doesn’t chase grand gestures, big reveals, or tidy resolutions; instead, it sits squarely in the uncomfortable mess that comes with starting over. Seamlessly slipping between the weightier, emotional moments and the observational stand-up (albeit often dark) comedy are moments of lightness. Remaining understated behind-the-camera, Cooper gives himself a small supporting role here as Alex’s laidback best friend, Balls, who provides most of the light laughs. There is an ease here, undoubtedly shaped by off-screen relationships, that feels true to lifelong friends. The film captures extraordinarily well the natural intimacy that comes with hanging out with loved ones and a partner you’ve known for decades.
But this is ultimately Arnett’s show. The actor is magnificent as a man finding his way back to himself and to what made him and Tess a family in the first place. Arnett could milk the literal spotlight and mug for the comedy audience; instead, he shows restraint in pulling Alex back to precisely where the performance should be. It’s not brash or showy; he’s not going to outshine the real comedians he’s sharing a stage with, like Reggie Conquest, Dave Attell, or Chloe Radcliffe. For an actor known for playing some of the most over-the-top real and animated characters, he’s sublimely understated in Is This Thing On?.
Dern, who also appears in Noah Baumbach’s recent drama Jay Kelly, gives a stronger performance here in what is arguably the better film. Her character remains a mystery longer than Alex’s, but eventually the script circles back to the journey that led Tess to her current circumstances. It’s a simple yet affecting performance, the kind that Dern excels at. If we’re weighing her chances this awards season, Is This Thing On? is the better bet.
Opening in limited release in Toronto on December 19 before rolling out in wide release on January 9, Is This Thing On? may not demand your attention, but it certainly earns it.