Movie Review: Is This Thing On?

Movie Number 8 of 2026

The Movie: Is This Thing On?

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute

Stars: 4

This film intrigued me from the outset. Directed by Bradley Cooper. Written by Cooper, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell It's a movie about stand up comedy and a marriage. It's a New York story of sorts. All of these normally mean I'll like the film. I'm happy to say that I did enjoy, and the film was so much more than what I thought it could be. It's smart, funny, well observed and heartfelt. What more do you need? 

IMDB.com describes the plot well. "As their marriage unravels, Alex (Will Arnett) faces middle age and divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene. Meanwhile, his wife Tess (Laura Dern) confronts sacrifices made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting and identities.

That sums it up nicely. We see most of this from Alex's point of view, starting when he and Tess separate in a reasonably amicable way. Seeking a bit of a new direction, Alex, turns up at an open mike night at a comedy club, and rather than pay a cover charge, puts his name down to go on stage - and remarkably, a fire is lit. Arnett is great and the struggling, searching Alex, who wants the best for all, including his two sons and his wife. 

The film not only takes you in the bowels of the comedy clubs, where Alex finds a new tribe of people, but looks at his greater group of family and friends. His supportive parents Jan (Christine Ebersole) and Jan (Ciaran Hinds), Alex and Tess's friendship group, including Sean Hayes, Andra Day and an extremely flaky Bradley Cooper and their eccentric actor friend Balls, who helps to bring comic relief. 

If anything, I found this to be a realistic view on married life and the existential crisis that hits many of us in middle age. The script is tight and punchy, with enough laughs to keep you entertained while looking deeper into the very human state of a long marriage. Bradley Cooper's direction brings this to life. 

My only gripe was the hand-held camera shots, which at times, particularly in the club scenes, made me feel a bit seasick. 

Otherwise, this comes recommended, particularly if you want to watch a film about grown-ups trying, and for the most succeeding, in getting their shit together. 

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