Is This Thing On is a pleasant, authentic comedy about how we process the rough in our lives, how we come to develop as people through change and development, inspired by the real-life story of UK Comedian John Bishop.
Will Arnett carries himself well as Alex Novak, a man in the process of an amicable separation from his Wife, Tess (played brilliantly by Laura Dern) but struggling to fully process through events before an attempt to skip a bar’s entry fee leads him into starting stand up comedy.
...authentic and human.
The film seems like a set up for a cringe-fest, or the potential to go wrong at the drop of a hat, but it’s tied together fantastically. Arnett and Dern’s performances are a strong selling point, but the writing and story really ensure the film properly works. Scenes never feel overblown or exaggerated; interactions, especially with Arnett & Dern feel authentic and human.
Directed by Cooper flexes his directorial knack once more and pleasantly surprises the audience with a funny, and touching story about love and laughter. Is This Thing On never bores you with an overwhelming use of humour, but is careful to never reduce the film to a poignant sob-story. Perhaps it’s not a love story to everyone’s tastes, but if you’re looking for a gentle, human story; then it’s the film for you.