Is This Thing On? Review: A Divorce Comedy with Heart and Humour
In Is This Thing On?, comic actor Will Arnett takes on a straight dramatic role, yet intriguingly, he portrays a would-be comedian. Directed and co-written by Bradley Cooper, this film offers a likable, if not entirely convincing, exploration of personal catharsis through standup comedy, inspired by an autobiographical anecdote from British comic John Bishop.
A Tale of Unfunny Honesty and Marital Strife
Arnett plays Alex, a regular man with a finance job, married to Tess (Laura Dern) with two young children, but their marriage is slowly imploding. Tess feels discontent after giving up her sports career to be a stay-at-home mom, while Alex fails to support her through incipient depression. Their friend group, including the immature Balls (played by Cooper) and his sharp-tongued wife Christine (Andra Day), adds to the complexity but offers little help.
On a weed-fuelled whim, Alex stumbles into an open mic night and discovers that audiences love his unfunny but sweetly honest confessional ramblings. He begins performing regularly without telling Tess, even using material about their grisly sex life, leading to a spectacularly embarrassing discovery. The film raises questions: is Alex genuinely funny by the end, or is comedy merely a cathartic episode before returning to his day-job?
Performance and Plausibility in a Comedy Drama
Arnett and Dern deliver sympathetic performances that elevate the film, making Tess's reaction to Alex's comedy betrayal feel believable in the moment, even if the plot stretches plausibility. Arnett's gentle, wounded face adds depth to his character, portraying a man who feels unheard, much like a standup comic questioning if his microphone works.
However, the film isn't fully convincing on its own terms. It might have been more plausible if Alex used the breakdown of his marriage as material for comedy, with Tess sensing she's becoming the butt of a joke. Instead, Is This Thing On? focuses on the cathartic power of comedy without delving deeply into whether Alex truly blossoms into a funny performer, unlike John Bishop's real-life inspiration.
Inspiration and Release Details
Inspired by John Bishop's story of stumbling into comedy during divorce depression, the film blends humour and drama in a spirited way. It's out now in the US, with releases scheduled for 30 January in the UK and 5 February in Australia, offering audiences a thoughtful take on remarriage and self-discovery through the lens of standup.
