Displaying items by tag: Is This Thing On? movie

IS THIS THING ON?

US, 2025, 121 minutes, Colour.

Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper, Sean Hayes, Ciaran Hinds, Christine Ebersole, Amy Sedaris, Peyton Manning.

Directed by Bradley Cooper.

That’s the usual, sometimes desperate, call from a stand-up comedian who feels that there is no response from the audience – microphones fault!

One commentator describe this film as A Comedy of Remarriage. Which is a tantalising thought. But, at the opening of this film, the long marriage between Alex and Tess has come to an end, divorce, not quite as amicable as hoped for, and two boys depending on their parents affection.

Alex is played by comedian Will Arnett, no stranger to stand-up comedy. Tess is played by Laura Dern, no stranger to marriage dramas, with an Oscar for her role as the counsellor in Marriage Story.

Alex, feeling down and out, wanders the streets, goes into a comedy Café, is told that he has to pay and his name go on the list for performance. He does – and, though some of the audience and management of the criticism, he does come across with his story of a broken marriage. And he goes back. Each time he gains more confidence in talking about the marriage, the difficulties, the break. Then, one night, Tess and a friend turn up, he is a routine, Tess somewhat overwhelmed, confronting Alex.

In fact, Tess hearing Alex analyse their marriage and relationship, happiness, difficulties, Break, is quite moved in her way, seeing Alex in another light – and, the potential for what might be called remarriage.

The film was cowritten and directed by Bradley Cooper and he appears in an oddball role as an eccentric friend of the couple, having his own marriage difficulties with his partner, Christine, Andra Day.

The film gets more interesting as it goes along, Tess with the possibility of resuming her career as a potential volleyball player in the past, now with coaching. Alex trying to connect with her and posting up a photo of her from her successful past. And the boys are performing in a play at school.

No final answers, unexpected new bonding between Alex and Tess – but where will it go in the future?

1. The title, speakers at microphones and asking the question? Especially when little response is heard?
2. The description, A Comedy of Remarriage?
3. The American city setting, homes, workplaces, comedy venues, volleyball courts…? The musical score?
4. The situation, the long marriage, failing, divorce, relationships between husband and wife, relationship to the boys? Friendship with Balls and Christine?
5. Alex as the central character, Will Arnett and his screen presence, in himself, age, the experience of marriage, the relationship with tests, the diminishing of the marriage, his relationship with his sons? Wandering, at the cafe, paying, on the list, call to perform, his capacity for performing, the response of the audience, the continued stand-up comedy routines, telling his life in story, the reaction of the crowd, responses? The staff, the management? The stand-up comedy community?
6. Tess, her story, in herself, her reactions to Alex, her relationship with her sons? Her friends? The past, the situation of the volleyball, her talent, prospects, giving it up? Her further career, opportunity to coach, decisions?
7. Laird, friendship, careers, Tess meeting with him, going to the stand-up comedy, his reactions?
8. Tess and the effect of the routine, watching, listening, confronting Alex, talking, going out, the continued discussions, the attraction, the sexual encounter?
9. Balls and Christine, the characters, comedy support, doubts about their marriage, Christine blaming Alex? Balls and his eccentricities?
10. Tess, the coaching job, Alex and the photo, the boys helping, Tess and reaction against the photo, her image from the past, rather than the present? The blame?
11. Alex’s parents, their personalities, the quiet father, the intervening mother?
12. Alex and his desperate performance, his rant about the marriage, his father present, his father’s response and advice?
13. Balls and Christine, reuniting?
14. Alex and Tess, covering up, the deeper relationship, the finale, the school, the musical, their sons, the response to the performance? The future?