'Is This Thing On?' Review: Bradley Cooper’s Tender, Funny Look at Life Beyond Love
- Alex Gilston
- Oct 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 29
By Alex Gilston - October 23, 2025
Love is often portrayed as the be-all and end-all of happiness, especially in classic cinema. Films ending with marriage or two main characters in love are seen as the happily ever after, and that you don’t need anything more in life than that. But what if that isn’t enough? What if you need something more than that to feel like you have fulfilled life? This is explored in Bradley Cooper’s latest directorial outing, Is This Thing On?, a slight and beautiful look at our need to exist as more than just a husband and/or wife.
In Is This Thing On? Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess’s (Laura Dern) marriage is on the ropes. Over the years, they’ve fallen out of love amidst traversing life and raising children. The pair decides to amicably split, trying to find themselves beyond their relationship. On a particularly hard night for Alex, he stumbles upon a bar that he can only enter for free if he signs up to do a stand-up open-mic slot. Considering he has nothing to lose, he puts his name down and eventually takes to the stage. He enjoys it so much that he decides to continue doing it. What proceeds is both he and Tess trying to pave a way for themselves as single people, and trying to find meaning beyond being a married couple.
This comedy drama, based loosely on the life of Liverpudlian comedian John Bishop (yes, you heard that right), treats its two central characters as equals. Alex may be the main character, but his wants and needs don’t outweigh Tess’s. As they start to gravitate towards each other, it’s clear what they’ve both been missing from each other, rather than Tess bearing the brunt of the shortcomings. Is This Thing On? only works because they admit that they are both equally in the wrong. Not only does it make the situation more realistic, having problematicism exist in both of them because none of us is perfect, but it evokes a stronger emotional response from the audience as the film reaches its natural conclusion.
This is where Is This Thing On? sets itself apart from similar romance films. Where the central relationship succeeds is usually enough; here, that isn’t the case. Both Alex and Tess find things they love to do apart from each other, and as they realise they might still be in love, they work out how those things fit into their lives together. There’s a beautiful bookend, where in the first scene, Alex is at a school event for his children, looking absolutely miserable by himself. In the final scene, these emotions are completely flipped as he celebrates a performance at school that he has attended with Tess; a conclusion filled with joy.
The performances in Is This Thing On? are phenomenal. It’s great to see Will Arnett and Laura Dern both take on bigger roles, as they usually find themselves supporting. Arnett specifically proves he’s a leading man through and through with a bravado that seems uncertain at times, but it cuts through. Dern takes a more subtle approach to Tess; her torment is quieter but equally impactful. Bradley Cooper also continues his trend of starring in his directorial efforts, in a role that you could consider as the comic relief. Every moment he is on screen is hilarious as the last. Andra Day also makes her presence known, acting as a mediator between Alex and Tess and the laborious partner of Cooper’s character.
Stand-up comedy as a subject in films has taken a back seat, probably because of its abysmal inclusion in 2019’s Joker, but it fits in seamlessly into this life-affirming romp. Between Is This Thing On? And The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, we need more films and TV shows that have characters who are comics going through the motions of life.
'Is This thing On?' had it's UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 14, 2025.
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