Is This Thing On? tells the deeply moving and funny story of a recently separated husband and father finding emotional catharsis as a stand-up comedian. Will Arnett catapults into awards contention with an honest and unfiltered performance that strikes a heartfelt nerve. We also see the perspective of his soon-to-be ex-wife, brilliantly portrayed by Laura Dern, as she also faces the challenge of going on alone. How do you find individual purpose when you’ve spent decades growing a family with a committed partner? They both soon discover that the ties that bind aren’t easily cut, as the issues that forced them apart are addressed in a surprising way.
In bustling New York City, Alex (Arnett) and Tess (Dern) Novak attend a dinner party at the apartment of their best friends (Andra Day, Bradley Cooper). They laugh and smile together, but everyone knows it’s all for show. Alex walks Tess back to the train station, and almost makes the mistake of getting on board; his eyes drop as the train pulls away, and he’s left with his sad thoughts. Alex meanders around the West Village, walking by an open-mic night at an underground comedy club. He decides to put his name on the list to avoid paying the cover charge.
Will Arnett Stuns
- Release Date
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December 19, 2025
- Runtime
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124 Minutes
Alex stands in front of the bright lights and tables of strangers with nothing else left to lose. He’s confused, heartbroken and doesn’t know how everything crumbled apart. Alex spent 26 years of his life with Tess, and she and their two sons still mean more to him than anything else. Now he’s a single guy living alone in a small apartment with cobbled-together furniture. What comes next? What’s he supposed to do? He can’t spend another night sitting in his car staring at his former home. Raw truth pours out on stage as the gaping hole in his soul is laid bare, until a smattering of applause fills the air. A stunned Alex has found an unexpected outlet to vent his sadness and frustration.
Is This Thing On? captures small moments with startling clarity and intensity. Director Cooper (A Star Is Born, Maestro), who also co-wrote the screenplay, films his actors in extreme close-ups and with long tracking shots throughout. He also limits edits in scenes and avoids wide angles, creating a feeling of being right in front of the action. We see Alex’s teary eyes and weathered lines transform with his dawning self-expression; he doesn’t have the answers to his problems, but at least he’s found a positive way to deal with them. Alex establishes a strong camaraderie with the local comics, who in turn become persuasive and uplifting. We see a profound change of countenance in Arnett as this new fellowship reveals different possibilities. Friendship and humor empower a needed step back from sorrow’s abyss, while also providing the courage to soldier on. Where that leads in the second act will have audiences absolutely enthralled.
Open Mic Night
Cooper’s focus on intimacy and character exposition gives his players extraordinary space for nuance. Scenes of simply looking in a mirror or just being alone in a closet have tremendous impact. Cooper shows how quieting outside noise and distraction, even for a few seconds, allows a breath of assurance to build confidence. Alex doesn’t immediately conquer the stand-up world with his previously unknown talent — he has to develop his craft and actually formulate an act from the personal maelstrom that’s engulfed him. This is why his comedy ends up being successful. He’s telling a human story that the audience can relate to in a personal way.
Alex is not depicted as a naturally humorous guy, which speaks volumes to Arnett’s depth and range. People are stunned when they find out Alex is doing comedy, because it’s an out-of-the-blue development from a guy who’s always been reserved. The audience knows that Arnett has significant comedy chops, so buying him first as depressed and desperate is integral. It’s an evolution in the narrative that hinges completely on Arnett’s credibility as a dramatic protagonist. Alex proves he’s able to change and adapt instead of miring in misery, which doesn’t go unnoticed by Tess as she also attempts a journey of reinvention.
Laura Dern as Tess
There’s no sordid philandering, treachery or cruelty that drove Alex and Tess apart, as Is This Thing On? aims for realism and not soap-opera machinations. Couples drift and fall out of love for everyday reasons. Alex and Tess never stop caring for each other, but they were never open about how they got to the point of separation. Arnett and Dern are superb when their fractured relationship is laid bare, and a climax where the unsaid bubbles to the surface hits like a freight train. Cooper remains fixed and lets the camera roll as hurt and resentment finally take center stage. These scenes are electric, and build to a fantastic resolution and a truly magnificent final shot.
Is This Thing On? is a production of Lea Pictures and Archery Pictures. It will be released theatrically on December 19th from Searchlight Pictures. Is This Thing On? was screened as part of the 63rd New York Film Festival.