Bradley Cooper Comedy ‘Is This Thing On?’ Reflects the Reality of Quiet Breakups, Says Will Arnett [Exclusive]

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Bradley Cooper’s newest film, Is This Thing On?, marks his return to directing after Maestro. This time, however, Cooper directs but doesn’t appear on screen. Instead, the film stars actor and comedian Jeremy Allen White as Alex, a man navigating a divorce who finds a new outlet in the New York stand-up comedy world. The comedy-drama premiered at the New York Film Festival last October and has since been released widely to positive reviews, with critics praising both the performances and Cooper’s direction.

In a recent conversation with MovieWeb, Arnett explained how the film portrays the end of a relationship with a raw and honest approach. Instead of dramatic conflict, Is This Thing On? focuses on the subtle, personal moments of dealing with lost connection. According to Arnett, the story isn’t about how the relationship failed, but rather about the characters’ journeys to heal and rebuild their lives.

It was crucial for us to begin the story right at that pivotal moment, rather than showing how things got there. We wanted the audience to feel immediately immersed in the situation. We trust viewers to understand the context – many of us have been through similar experiences, and often, these moments aren’t about huge drama, but rather a quieter, more relatable sadness.

‘Is This Thing On?’ Is a Powerful Examination of Relationships & Marriage


Searchlight Pictures

MovieWeb also spoke with Laura Dern, who plays Alex’s wife Tess, about her experience working with Peyton Manning, who portrays Laird in the film. Dern surprisingly feels that Manning’s fame as an NFL legend actually improves his performance, adding depth to his character and reinforcing the themes of growth and transformation in the movie.

We were thrilled to have him in the movie – he’s genuinely funny and a very natural actor. This was fantastic news for Bradley playing the role, but especially for portraying Tess. He really embodied Peyton, not just physically, but also in understanding what it’s like to be at the top of your game and then have to retire, to find new ways to stay connected to something you love, like coaching or commentating, and still make a significant impact. That’s really the heart of Peyton’s story.

Critics have lauded Is This Thing On? as a compelling exploration of relationships. Its success is largely due to strong casting choices and direction by Cooper, coupled with outstanding performances from actors like Arnett, Dern, and Manning.

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2026-01-06 16:21