Is This Thing On? (2025)

IMDb plot summary: As their marriage unravels, Alex faces middle age and divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene. Meanwhile, his wife Tess confronts sacrifices made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting and identities.

Directed by Bradley Cooper. Stars Will Arnett, Laura Dern, and Andra Day.

Is This Thing On? is a romantic drama/comedy starring Will Arnett as a man who discovers he really loves stand-up comedy after the unexpected dissolution of his marriage. At least that's how the film sells it to you for the first half, and then we get a slightly different turn of events in the second half, which is really where the film snapped into focus for me. The film ends on an unexpectedly heartwarming note that I didn't anticipate going into it, and I'm hesitant to even say much about it here because having no concept of it was really what made it special for me. It also manages to avoid that problem that so many films about art have where showing the art itself is a let down, but in this case the film is populated with so many actual real life stand-up comedians that it truly brings an authenticity to the world, and even when Arnett's jokes don't land, it's easy to believe that other people are enjoying them and it doesn't detract from the story. I was iffy on A Star Was Born and haven't seen Maestro, but this made me want to see more of Bradley Cooper's directorial work in future because there is a gentleness and a warmth to this that I appreciate.

🎥 Is This Thing On? (2025)

📊 Ranked #477/4245 on my Flickchart

🎯 Flickscore™: 88

beat Space Pirate Captain Harlock (#2169 → #2171)

beat The Body Snatcher (#1126 → #1129)

lost to The Edge of Seventeen (#603 → #439)

lost to Turning Red (#867 → #868)

lost to The Substance (#994 → #995)

beat An American Werewolf in London (#1060 → #1062)

beat 20th Century Women (#1027 → #1042)

lost to Steven Universe: The Movie (held at #1010)

beat Mr. Brooks (#1019 → #1022)

beat Wag the Dog (#1014 → #1018)

beat Hannah and Her Sisters (#1012 → #1013)

beat Anomalisa (held at #1011)