Bradley Cooper is a director I will always root for. His directorial debut, “A Star is Born,” was a surprisingly raw look at love and addiction, immediately proving he had real talent as a storyteller. And his sophomore effort, “Maestro,” was a towering work whose ambition and sincerity deeply resonated with me. However, the film drew undeserving jeers from the film community, who labeled it as desperately pretentious — God forbid a man wants an Oscar! It seems like Cooper took this derision to heart, as his newest film, “Is This Thing On?”, is far more modest in scope and topic. And while it is definitely a lesser work than his two previous outings, “Is This Thing On?” is still a tender and thoughtful look at marriage and the resilient love it demands.
The film centers on Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern), a middle-aged couple who have decided to split up after 20 years of marriage and two kids. The story doesn’t kick off with a big blowout fight or even much exposition about what triggered the separation; all we get is a simple “We need to call it. Right?” from Tess during the opening scene, as Alex prepares to move to his new bachelor pad in New York City. Relations are ostensibly amicable between the two; they pleasantly tolerate each other’s presence at their friend’s house party, but they both carry a latent sadness and bitterness that they don’t know how to express. But this changes as Alex, high off a weed cookie from the house party, stumbles into a comedy club’s open mic night and begins riffing to the crowd about his marital issues. He finds the experience cathartic and thrilling, and decides to start doing stand-up regularly.
Alex’s excavation of self through stand-up is fascinating and inspiring. You get the sense he was just drifting through life, full of emotions he couldn’t quite articulate until now. He’s not amazing at stand-up, but watching him delight in honing his craft and working through his emotions is infectious. Cooper’s intrusive camera uses extreme close-ups and long takes during Alex’s stand-up, evoking a stark emotional intimacy. This visual style also brings to life the tight spaces of the comedy clubs and apartments where the story unfolds. Even under such a scrutinizing camera, Arnett shines throughout the film. He plays Alex with a winning vulnerability and affability; he’s just a kind-hearted finance bro who let his marriage pass before him and is now resorting to stand up to pick up the pieces. It’s surprising it took Arnett this long to get a meaty, dramatic role after his brilliant work in “BoJack Horseman,” but I’m glad Cooper finally gave him the opportunity.
However, Cooper devotes equal attention to Tess’s journey. Her grievances with the marriage stem from her frustration with the volleyball career she gave up for her family. Dern is predictably great in the role — she might be the most dependable actress in Hollywood. Tess embarks on a journey of self-discovery concurrent with Alex’s, as she explores returning to volleyball as a coach. This helps balance the relationship drama and establish a sense of mutual development between the two. She especially knocks it out of the park during a pivotal scene where Tess inadvertently attends one of Alex’s stand-up performances with her date. As she watches her husband unflinchingly dissect and joke about their failed relationship, Dern’s face deftly conveys a dozen different emotions: anger, shock, arousal, sadness, and ultimately, respect.
Cooper’s endearing penchant for sincerity ensures the marital drama never becomes a grueling war of attrition like “Marriage Story.” Thanks to Arnett and Dern’s excellent chemistry, it’s clear right from the start that Alex and Tess have a true, abiding love for each other. Yet, there’s been a growing distance between them over the years. It is Alex’s standup that enables them to achieve emotional breakthroughs in their relationship, and the second half of the film is dedicated to them working through years of pent-up issues. I would say this is where the film falters a little, as the script becomes somewhat flimsy and lacks emotional precision. The part where they have their big heart-to-heart about their relationship issues could have been written a bit more sharply, especially since the film is otherwise vague about exactly what led to their divorce.
Further, the film glides a little too easily to its resolution in the last ten minutes, but Cooper’s heart is certainly in the right place. Rather than treating Alex and Tess’s mutual dissatisfaction as grounds for dissolution, the film frames it as an occasion for candid dialogue and renewed commitment. It’s a remarkably hopeful film about marriage, asserting that growth can occur even in seemingly ossified relationships. Their love for each other is resilient, it just needed some honesty and introspection to course-correct.
“Is This Thing On?” is a refreshing chaser after the excess of “Maestro,” even if it doesn’t reach that film’s heights. Two excellent central performances and Cooper’s intimate direction make this a smart, affecting reflection on marriage. I hope this film renewed Cooper’s confidence. Give me another audacious swing for an Oscar — ambition suits him.
