---
title: "Is This Thing On?: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/is-this-thing-on/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/is-this-thing-on"
critics_score: 70
critics_reviews: 24
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Is This Thing On? (2025): what the critics said

Critics' score 70 from 24 reviews: 16 positive, 6 mixed, 2 negative.

Most critics like it, and nearly all of them like it for the same reasons. The praise clusters on Will Arnett, whose turn as a separated father trying open-mic stand-up is repeatedly called a revelation for an actor known for comedy, and on Laura Dern, singled out for her reactions as much as her lines. Bradley Cooper’s direction is described as intimate, loose and modestly scaled, a deliberate change of pace.

The reservations are also consistent: the script is thin on the marriage itself, the stand-up thread is underused, and several reviewers are unsure whether the character is meant to be any good at comedy. The Guardian and The Skinny both find it not quite funny enough. The spread is wide. The Times calls it slight and ploddy, The Wrap objects to the camera staying so close to one man’s point of view, and Eye for Film thinks the screenplay wastes its premise. Even the harshest reviews spare the two leads.

## Empire — John Nugent

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/is-this-thing-on/)

## Film Comment — Molly Haskell

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/the-aging-artist-jay-kelly-noah-baumbach-is-this-thing-on-bradley-cooper-late-fame-kent-jones-review/)

## Little White Lies — Katherine McLaughlin

Rating 4/4/4. 26 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/is-this-thing-on)

## The i Paper — Francesca Steele

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 30 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/john-bishop-divorce-better-than-sounds-4166018)

## The New Yorker — Justin Chang

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2025. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/12/22/is-this-thing-on-movie-review)

## The Telegraph — Tim Robey

Rating 4/5. 30 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2025/10/14/bradley-cooper-is-this-thing-on/)

## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen

Rating 4/5. 29 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/is-this-thing-on-review-2026)

## Screen Daily

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-coopers-bittersweet-third-feature-stars-will-arnett-and-laura-dern/5209832.article)

## The Independent

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/is-this-thing-on-review-john-bishop-b2909223.html)

## Vulture

Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-made-a-crowd-pleaser.html)

## Sight and Sound

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 27 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/this-thing-will-arnett-delivers-just-right-amount-self-deprecation-rom-com-based-life-comedian-john-bishop)

## The AV Club — Jesse Hassenger

Rating B-. 13 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/is-this-thing-on-review)

## The New York Times — Jeannette Catsoulis

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2025. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/movies/is-this-thing-on-review.html)

## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele

Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2025. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-12-18/is-this-thing-on-review-will-arnett-laura-dern-bradley-cooper-andra-day-stand-up)

## Radio Times

Rating 3/5. 26 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/is-this-thing-on-review/)

## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 29 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/29/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-will-arnett)

## Variety — Owen Gleiberman

Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/is-this-thing-on-review-will-arnett-bradley-cooper-1236545242/)

## IndieWire — Ryan Lattanzio

Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-1235155255/)

## Financial Times — Danny Leigh

Rating ★★★★☆. 29 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/53670c38-d9fa-4ea2-be45-47d0ff93795d)

## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney

10 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/is-this-thing-on-review-will-arnett-laura-dern-1236397884/)

## The Times — Kevin Maher

Rating ★★☆☆☆. 28 January 2026. 

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

[Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-rom-com-dvhvc2slh)

## /Film — Ethan Anderton

Rating 9/10. 18 December 2025. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2054865/is-this-thing-on-movie-review/)

## Deadline — Pete Hammond

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 11 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/10/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-dissection-marriage-1236582536/)

## Collider — Nate Richard

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 13 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://collider.com/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-will-arnett-laura-dern/)

## The Skinny — Philip Concannon

Rating ★★★. 26 January 2026. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/is-this-thing-on)

## The Wrap

Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 15 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/is-this-thing-on-review-bradley-cooper-will-arnett/)

## Eye for Film — Paul Risker

Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 28 December 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/is-this-thing-on-2025-film-review-by-paul-risker)

## Paste — Casey Epstein-Gross

Rating 7.2. 16 October 2025. Festival review. 

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.

[Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/bradley-cooper/is-this-thing-on)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/is-this-thing-on.md