Is This Thing On? Movie Review (2025)

A slice-of-life indie about a man who finds a passion in stand-up comedy while going through a divorce, Is This Thing On? is bittersweet and reflective.

There have been some excellent indie films that have released over the last 12 months. If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, The Thing With Feathers, and Eleanor The Great are the first that come to mind, but there have been others. And the thing with independent films is that they tend to be smaller. They are far more character-driven, and they don’t adhere to as many “Hollywood rules,” which, in my opinion, gives them additional opportunities to connect with the audience.

Is This Thing On? is about Alex Novak, a middle-aged man who suddenly finds himself separated from his wife of many years, Tess. Living apart from her and his kids, he stumbles into a bar one night and signs up to be one of the stand-up comedy acts to save on the entrance fee. Finding comfort in it, he keeps going back, making friends with the other comics, and attempting to navigate his personal life.

Directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, this is a very likeable movie with its own personality. Plus, how many films are there about using stand-up as your own personal therapy? You hear comedians talk about it, but not many features focus on it.

There are some raw and grainy close-up shots of Arnett’s Alex on stage that help you feel his vulnerability and discomfort as he ponders his life. He never seems uneasy on the stage or with an audience, only with his own existence and current journey.

Is This Thing On? is inspired by a true story, and it’s fitting that Queen’s “Under Pressure” is a running theme. It highlights the midlife questions that arise about your job, your partner, how you parent, and what’s left moving forward.

But this is also a film that focuses on aging relationships. Tess was fulfilled as a young woman on the volleyball court, but isn’t sure that she is seen for the wife and mother she is now. Alex thinks he understands and keeps trying, but he’s bogged down with his own “coming to terms with things” process. The entire storyline is unbelievably realistic and relatable. Far more than films where pots and pans are being thrown at each other’s heads.

I particularly enjoyed Will Arnett’s honest performance in this movie, but found myself curious about a few other actors. Sean Hayes and Amy Sedaris each make a few appearances, but they are hugely underused, with a combined screentime of less than 5 minutes. Cooper also plays a friend questioning his own relationship, but it was when Peyton Manning entered that I did a double-take. He’s not bad, but I spent far too much time wondering how that casting came about. Are he and Cooper neighbors? Friends? Do they hang out? Who asked who about the film?

Is This Thing On? is an unassuming film that takes you on a journey of one imperfect man who keeps trying. It’s mellow, but well-constructed, and more about the characters than the plot. Plus, any movie that knows how to use “Under Pressure” appropriately gets an extra vote from me.

Runtime: 121 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: R

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes

Did I Cry? Nope

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Available: Currently in theaters