The Reel Review
After splitting up with his wife Tess, Alex develops an interest in performing stand-up comedy to help cope with the disorientation of his new, upended life. Will Arnett and Laura Dern star in this romantic dramedy from co-writer/director/actor Bradley Cooper, who also co-stars.
Cooper presents an impressively honest and authentic look at the challenges associated with marriage, and what happens when the communication stops. The evolution of Alex’s apartment (from a very empty space to something that looks lived in) will be relatable for anyone who has experienced divorce. Cooper even incorporates a twist into the story he co-wrote with Arnett and Mark Chappell (See How They Run). Once they live apart, Alex and Tess embrace their individual interests which – surprise! – ends up making them regain that spark that made them so attracted to one another 20 years earlier. The big-name cast includes Andra Day (The United.States vs Billie Holiday), Ciaran Hines (Belfast), Christine Ebersole, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes and Peyton Manning.
The story is complex and refreshingly unpredictable and has lots of subtle moments that illustrate how the twosome truly love one another despite their own personal shortcomings, culminating in a surprisingly nice, feel-good ending.
REEL FACTS
• Is This Thing On? is inspired by the real-life story of British stand-up comedian John Bishop, who shared his unconventional path into stand-up with Arnett after they met on a canal boat in Amsterdam. Arnett and comedian/actress Amy Poehler divorced in 2016 after 13 years of marriage. They have two sons, Archie and Abel.
• Originally Emily Blunt was going to play Tess, but dropped out due to scheduling issues.
• Sean Hayes and real-life husband Scott Icenogle play the film’s gay couple. The two met in 2006 on Ellen DeGeneres’s talk show Ellen, where Icenogle was working as the DJ.
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