Is This Thing On?

Is This Thing On? is a much more lowkey directorial effort from Cooper. He plays it cool, the whole film plays out less ‘performative’ - feeling more like a film he actually wanted to make opposed to it being a good idea to make.

Big fan of comedian John Bishop, of whom the story is based off, really interesting turn of events in a marriage - what the point of it is, why people do it. It’s questions that have been posed in many films before, but I really felt this offered a unique lens. The film is very funny, very emotional, but most importantly, grounded, the relationship feels real, their struggle feels real - it all just really worked.

Fantastic to see Will Arnett in a more serious role, he’s really good! There’s a moment very early on at a train station where he does a small ‘choke’ as the scene ends that really got me! Laura Dern was great too, obvs, the film played more like a two-hander than I assumed, but that really worked. Their dynamic and chemistry felt authentic to the story in a really effective way.

Great job from Bradley Cooper, in my eyes he’s 3/3, being a big fan of the controversial Maestro. I really, genuinely look forward to what he does next. Also, cheap shot playing “Under Pressure” - that song always gets me!!

8/10
Being a big Will Arnett fan, this was a great watch. The cast is really good and I enjoyed the plot. The actual comedy isn’t anything special but that’s not really the point of the film. I really like and agree with the ideas this movie is trying to communicate to the viewer

It was really enjoyable and a good movie. Not amazing but a very good movie that was easy to watch. Seemed a predictable but overall a cute and happy movie

8/10
Being a big Will Arnett fan, this was a great watch. The cast is really good and I enjoyed the plot. The actual comedy isn’t anything special but that’s not really the point of the film. I really like and agree with the ideas this movie is trying to communicate to the viewer

It was really enjoyable and a good movie. Not amazing but a very good movie that was easy to watch. Seemed a predictable but overall a cute and happy movie

Honestly I was stoked for this movie but it was kinda boring