Is This Thing On? — A Mature, Heartfelt Comedy-Drama About Reinvention.
Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On? (2025) is a comedy-drama that blends introspection, gentle humor, and emotional honesty into an adult story about marriage, identity, aging and the surprising paths life can take. Co-written by Cooper, Will Arnett and Mark Chappell and inspired (loosely) by the real journey of British comic John Bishop, the film premiered as the Closing Night film of the 2025 New York Film Festival and opened wide in U.S. theaters on December 19, 2025.
The film doesn’t aim for blockbuster spectacle but instead crafts a mature, character-driven narrative about a man trying to find his place in the world after his marriage falters — and discovering both pain and possibility in a gritty, vibrant corner of New York’s stand-up scene.
How Many Cast — and Who’s in the Movie.
Is This Thing On? features a rich ensemble of actors, with the story grounded in the experiences and relationships of a central couple and their wide circle of friends and family. Major credited cast members include:
Principal Cast
- Will Arnett as Alex Novak — the film’s lead, a man in midlife whose marriage is ending and who stumbles into stand-up comedy.
- Laura Dern as Tess Novak — Alex’s wife, wrestling with her own identity and sacrifices through the dissolution of their marriage.
- Andra Day as Christine — part of the extended social circle around Alex and Tess.
- Bradley Cooper as Balls — Alex’s eccentric, comic best friend.
- Amy Sedaris as Kemp — a comic host or club personality in the stand-up scene.
- Sean Hayes as Stephen — one of Alex’s friends.
- Ciarán Hinds as Jan — Alex’s father, a voice of grounded wisdom.
- Christine Ebersole — Alex’s mother, sharp and loving.
Additional appearances include stand-up performers like Chloe Radcliffe, Reggie Conquest and Jordan Jensen, as well as a cameo by Peyton Manning in a supporting scene tied to Tess’s subplot.
In total, the credited ensemble numbers around 10-12 performers with speaking roles, while the film also incorporates real-life comics and background performers to populate the stand-up world.
Who Is the “Means” (Main) Character?
At the heart of the story is Alex Novak, played by Will Arnett — the “means” character whose journey anchors the film’s emotional and narrative development. Alex is a man in his late 40s/early 50s whose marriage to Tess (Laura Dern) is dissolving after many years together. Facing divorce, co-parenting, and the loss of long-held identity markers (husband, provider, friend), Alex wanders into an open mic at a comedy club almost by accident — unable even to pay the cover charge — and signs up just to get inside.
His first set is terrible; he rambles awkwardly, unsure of timing or material. But his raw honesty and vulnerability — jokes about divorce and middle-aged confusion — win over an audience that sees something authentic beneath the nervous exterior. This accidental entry into comedic performance becomes the catalyst for his reinvention and the central thread of the film.
While Tess, their son(s), and friends like Balls and Christine have meaningful arcs as well, the film always returns to Alex’s evolving sense of self: from passive participant in his life to someone actively trying to make meaning out of pain, humor out of heartbreak and purpose out of uncertainty. That emotional line — from reaction to action — is the connective tissue of the story.
Box Office (“Box Collection”) — What the Film Made.
According to box-office tracking, Is This Thing On? grossed about $6 million in the United States during its theatrical run.
This figure reflects the film’s mid-tier theatrical reach — not a wide-release blockbuster but a wide enough rollout for a Searchlight Pictures adult dramedy late in the year. Its release period, nestled between larger holiday films, and its quieter, character-focused tone contributed to modest box office returns, which is typical for relationship-drama films aimed more at adult audiences than multiplex crowds.
Critics and audiences have since continued watching it via streaming and on digital platforms, helping the film build a longer-term cultural footprint beyond theatrical numbers. (While streaming data isn’t fully public, sources indicate eventual availability on platforms like Hulu / Disney+ given its Searchlight/Disney ownership.
The Niche — Who This Movie Is For
Is This Thing On? occupies a specific niche within contemporary cinema as a comedy-drama about middle age, marriage, identity, and creation. Its audience includes:
Relationship Drama Enthusiasts
Unlike broad romantic comedies, this film deals with divorce, co-parenting and the evolving identity of adults past 40, making it relatable to audiences who appreciate nuanced portraits of long-term relationships.
Stand-Up and Performance-Journey Fans
Audiences interested in behind-the-scenes comedy worlds, or the vulnerability and craft of stand-up performance, will find depth and authenticity in Alex’s amateur comedy arc — even if not every joke lands.
Character-Driven Cinema Lovers
Viewers who gravitate toward character studies with emotional texture rather than action or spectacle — films where the internal arc matters more than external conflict — will appreciate how the story evolves.
Adult Contemporary Audience
The Is This Thing On? film’s focus on mid-life transitions, parenting, sacrifice and personal rediscovery makes it especially resonant for adult audiences in or approaching similar life stages.
Bradley Cooper / Arnett Fans
Fans of Bradley Cooper’s previous directorial work (A Star Is Born, Maestro) will find continuity in his sensitive, human-first lens — and Will Arnett’s fans will see a surprisingly rich dramatic turn from a performer usually known for broad comedy.
Deep Details — Story, Themes, Style, and Execution.
Plot Overview (No Major Spoilers)
At the start of Is This Thing On?, Alex Novak and Tess Novak are navigating the breakup of a long marriage. They have children and shared history, but their relationship has run its course. Rather than escalating into bitterness, the separation is portrayed as mutual and emotionally complicated — a quiet unraveling fueled by mid-life dissatisfaction and unspoken disappointment.
Alex, a finance professional with a low-key lifestyle, finds himself adrift in New York City after an open-hearted but tense conversation with Tess. One night, on a whim and lacking the cash for a comedy club’s cover charge, he signs up for an open mic and reads off awkward Gemini material about divorce, adult uncertainty and personal failure. It’s terrible — but strangely not unwatchable, as the crowd finds his honesty endearing.
This accidental comedic debut gives way to more attempts on stage, with Alex developing a growing confidence, personal voice and place in a community of fringe comics. Meanwhile, Tess is exploring her own identity beyond being a wife and mother, recalling her past as a volleyball coach and wrestling with what she gave up to support the family. Their parallel journeys — of loss, discovery and self-definition — form the emotional axis of the Is This Thing On? film.
Supporting characters flesh out this arc:
- Balls (Cooper) is Alex’s goofy, supportive friend who provides comic relief and emotional grounding.
- Christine (Andra Day) and couples like Stephen and Geoffrey (Sean Hayes and Scott Icenogle) represent different relational patterns and perspectives on aging, performance and emotional courage.
- Alex’s parents, Marilyn and Jan (Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds), add depth to his backstory and emotional landscape.
By the end, the film avoids a simple “comedy success/romantic reunion” formula. Instead, it reflects on how careers, art and relationships inform one another — and how healing can look nonlinear, awkward and messy.
Key Themes.
Is This Thing On? explores:
Identity in Transition
It’s a portrait of redefining oneself after long chapters close — who we become after roles like “husband,” “wife” or “provider” are negotiated.
The Catharsis of Performance
Alex’s turn to comedy isn’t about fame but finding a voice — a way to connect with others and express vulnerability with humor as both mask and mirror.
Re-Imagining Relationships
Rather than vilify divorce, the movie treats it as a complex emotional shift, showing how deep care remains even as romantic forms change.
Comedy vs. Vulnerability
The Is This Thing On? film plays with the idea that stand-up comedy is often a disguise — a way to make pain palatable — and asks whether laughter can be healing or just another defense.
Style & Direction.
Bradley Cooper’s approach here is restrained and intimate. He leans into long takes, grounded performances and warm cinematography that reflects New York’s character with texture rather than gloss.
Critics have noted the film’s documentary-like immediacy at times, especially in scenes capturing open mic nights or casual interactions among friends and comics. There’s less polish than in Cooper’s previous musicals (A Star Is Born, Maestro), and more of a lived-in feel rooted in everyday life.
The pacing is gentle rather than high-octane, favoring emotionally resonant moments and character beats over broad set pieces or rapid punch lines. Some reviewers find the second act a touch slow, but others argue that this mirrors the protagonist’s emotional processing.
Performances.
Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Ciarán Hinds, Christine Ebersole round out a cast that brings genuine chemistry and layered interaction to every scene.
Will Arnett (Alex) delivers a nuanced, sensitive turn, expanding his range beyond broad comedy into emotional complexity and subtle vulnerability.
Laura Dern (Tess) anchors her subplot with grace and depth, showing both resilience and confusion as she rediscovers personal ambition.
Bradley Cooper (Balls) brings warmth and comedic grounding in a supportive role that enriches the film’s comic texture.
Critical Reception & Conversation.
Is This Thing On? holds strong critical approval — around 86–88% on Rotten Tomatoes — with many critics praising its mature emotional core and the interactions between Arnett and Dern. Some viewers admire its warmth and relatability, while others find its pacing and comedic efficacy uneven, reflecting the challenge of balancing heartfelt drama with stand-up comedy elements.
Audience discussions also reveal a mix of affection and mild frustration — some appreciating the film’s reflection of adult life, others wishing for sharper comedic payoff.
Final Thoughts
Is This Thing On? is a thoughtful, emotionally grounded comedy-drama about middle age, shifting identities, second chances and how art — even clownish open mic nights — can be a mirror for truth. Its modest box office reflects its niche: a character-driven story for adults who appreciate nuanced relationships and introspection over high-end spectacle.
Will Arnett’s performance, Laura Dern’s depth, and Bradley Cooper’s mature directorial touch make this film a compelling exploration of life’s transitions, where laughter and tears are often the same thing seen from different angles.
