Is This Thing On? (2025)

Cooper’s funniest and most humane film to date is an appealing tragicomedy-drama about a man processing divorce through stand-up, told with veracity and heart by a strong cast including Arnett and Dern. It feels carved from real emotional bedrock in its portrayal of ordinary family life and self-discovery.

The film portrays a middle-aged man's late-life reinvention through stand-up comedy amid marital separation, highlighting the paradox of marriage and the possibility of new identities. It is described as a feel-good yet organic and incandescent story with strong performances, especially from Will Arnett and Laura Dern.

Cooper’s charming rom-com drama about a struggling marriage viewed through stand-up is funny, insightful and brilliantly directed. It excels in its beautifully performed depiction of adult relationships and the emotional energy of separation.

This is a raw, uplifting story about midlife reinvention through comedy that proves life does not narrow in your 40s, with Arnett delivering a tremendous, restrained lead performance and Dern providing complex support. The gentle humour and lived-in portrayal of separation make it feel authentic and fun despite some implausible elements.

Cooper's modestly scaled film is scrappy yet enormously affecting, centering on fragile exes who may salvage their marriage through self-discovery. Arnett's revelatory performance as the novice comic and Dern's expressive reactions are singled out for praise.

Bradley Cooper’s spry directing effort proves he can be loose and funny, with Will Arnett delivering a superb lead performance as a depressed father who finds catharsis in stand-up comedy loosely inspired by John Bishop.

Divorce becomes a laughing matter in this bittersweet break-up tale where Arnett delivers a revelation as the stand-up novice. Cooper finds renewal and a sense of fresh perspective amid the pain of marital breakdown and co-parenting.

Arnett and Dern impress as a couple navigating divorce in Cooper’s bittersweet third feature, which settles comfortably into a melancholy register. Stand-up serves as therapy for the protagonist, allowing emotional nakedness without suggesting comedic genius.

The film is a sweet, slightly subdued dramedy that accurately captures the world of open-mic nights while exploring whether creative pursuits can ease the burdens of a dissolving marriage rather than add to them. It works through its focus on the ordinary and the personal, with strong chemistry between Arnett and Dern, though it remains minor in scope.

The review calls it a crowd-pleaser focused more on relationship dynamics than comedy, with Cooper showing flair for domestic drama. Arnett and Dern's characters find unexpected joy and lingering connection after separation through stand-up and coaching.

Bradley Cooper offers a predictable yet sympathetic look at a marriage on the rocks, with Will Arnett finding unexpected solace in stand-up comedy. The film champions mid-budget adult dramas through its focus on middle-aged self-reckoning and co-parenting dynamics.

The critic praises the modest scale and strong turns from Arnett and Dern in this enjoyable dramedy about divorce and stand-up reinvention. It lacks deeper messiness in its marriage themes despite solid performances and an intimate directorial approach.

The film is an amiable, low-stakes comedy about a separated man finding solace in stand-up that never delves deeply into marital turmoil. Cooper's intimate direction and strong performances from Arnett and Dern are singled out for praise amid a flimsy script.

The dramedy is a worthy but uneven effort that crams together two good ideas about stand-up as therapy and marital reconnection. Cooper's confident direction and the lead actors' chemistry are singled out, though the stand-up thread feels underused.

Cooper turns John Bishop’s life story into a sweet but indulgent comedy-drama about a man turning to stand-up amid separation. It is applauded for tackling divorce with a level head in an intimate, shaggy-dog style.

The film is a likable, spirited story about a man discovering stand-up comedy amid divorce, but it is not entirely convincing on its own terms and the central character’s comedic talent remains unclear.

The feel-good divorce comedy is observant and bittersweet but slightly soft and pandering, with Arnett likable in a mopey role. The script's basis in real life and the ensemble are noted, though it lacks edge.

The review notes captivating turns from Arnett and Dern but criticizes the film as overlong and self-indulgent, a midlife-crisis stand-up story that could use more genuine crisis. Cooper's direction shows flair but the result feels uneven at NYFF.

Will Arnett is wry and likeable as a man whose marriage ends and who turns to stand-up comedy for emotional release in this charming, understated crowd-pleaser.

The critic finds the film soulful, funny and affecting as a warmhearted flipside to Marriage Story, with stand-up serving as therapeutic self-discovery after divorce. Arnett and Dern deliver gorgeous, natural performances that fuel its emotional honesty.

The film is a harmless but savagely slight middlebrow romance that feels ploddy despite amiable turns from Will Arnett and Laura Dern.

The critic praises Will Arnett's career-defining performance as a recently divorced man turning to stand-up in this intimate dramedy. They single out the authentic chemistry with Laura Dern and the film's genuine portrayal of a fractured relationship for particular praise.

The critic praises the film's insightful and often funny dissection of a crumbling marriage, highlighting the strong performances by Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a couple navigating divorce through stand-up comedy as therapy. They single out the intimate filmmaking and authentic portrayal of personal fulfillment needs for particular acclaim.

Will Arnett gives a career-best dramatic performance as a man navigating divorce by stumbling into stand-up comedy; the film is lauded for its mature, intimate portrayal of a dissolving marriage and strong turns from Arnett and Laura Dern.

The film is engaging and perceptive as a portrait of a marriage in a rut and a refreshing change of pace for the director, but never quite funny enough with a dramatically undercooked story and pat resolution. Arnett and Dern excel, particularly Dern in a standout emotional moment.

The review finds the divorce dramedy mostly stingy and limited by Cooper's myopic techniques, criticizing the focus on one character's emotional reality at the expense of balanced development and the stifling camera work. They single out the bro-y camaraderie between Arnett and Cooper for some amusement but overall see it as sketchy and frustrating.

The critic finds the film crippled by a screenplay that fails to deliver on its potential as a heartwarming story. They single out the lack of depth in characters and plot as the main complaint, despite some strong stand-up scenes.

The dramedy delivers a modest, realistic take on post-divorce life through the lens of amateur stand-up without treating comedy as therapy or a path to fame; it excels thanks to the lived-in chemistry between Will Arnett and Laura Dern and Bradley Cooper’s restrained, intimate direction.