When the curtain fell on the 2025 New York Film Festival this October, it was Bradley Cooper’s new dramedy, Is This Thing On?, that sent audiences home with laughter, reflection, and a few surprises. The film, which stars Will Arnett as Alex—a finance guy wading through the aftermath of a marital split—has already generated buzz for its unique blend of comedy and heartfelt storytelling. But perhaps even more notable is the way Cooper, Arnett, and Laura Dern (who plays Alex’s ex-wife, Tess) have woven their real-life camaraderie into a movie that’s as much about friendship and second chances as it is about punchlines and pratfalls.
According to USA TODAY, the film’s first-ever screening was held on October 10, 2025, at the New York Film Festival, where it served as the closing night selection. The festival, known for attracting megastars like Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Daniel Day-Lewis, offered a fittingly grand stage for Cooper’s third directorial outing. The movie is set for a limited theatrical release on December 19, 2025, with Searchlight Pictures already courting awards season voters in advance.
So what’s the story behind Is This Thing On?? The film follows Alex, who, after separating from his wife Tess, stumbles into the world of stand-up comedy. It’s not a seamless transition. As Arnett himself put it, “He’s not the Michael Jordan of comedy. The first time he goes on stage, he’s never been in front of a mic before, and then you see him progressively get comfortable. There were moments that we shot where the joke was too good or too clean.” The journey from financial analyst to aspiring comic is a rocky one, and Arnett’s character bombs on stage more than once. In fact, some of the stand-up scenes were filmed in real New York comedy clubs with unsuspecting tourists in the audience—many of whom had no idea who Arnett was. “There were some great bombs,” Arnett recalled. “The only people laughing were Bradley and our friend, Bob, in the back because I’m bombing and I cannot recover.”
Cooper, who co-wrote the film with Arnett and John Bishop (with Mark Chappell also credited as a co-writer), appears in a scene-stealing supporting role as Balls, Alex’s best friend—a struggling actor, often stoned, who offers comic relief and the occasional nugget of wisdom. “I love Balls,” Cooper quipped to a laughing crowd at a Screen Actors Guild screening on October 11. “The character.” It’s a classic best-friend performance, the kind of part that, in another year, might have drawn more Oscar buzz for a supporting actor. But as Prestige Junkie pointed out, this year’s awards season conversation has been quieter for Cooper, with few pundits predicting nominations despite his four opportunities (best picture, director, supporting actor, and screenplay).
Yet, if you ask Cooper, that’s just fine. After all, his previous directorial efforts—A Star Is Born (2018) and Maestro (2023)—both received multiple Oscar nominations, including best picture, but left Cooper himself without a win. “I was surprised how at ease and relaxed I was doing this,” Cooper told reporters. He credits his comfort to the decades-long friendship he shares with Arnett and Dern. “There’s that comfort level, when you come to work and you see this person that you’ve been through everything with. These two people know every single thing that I’ve been through, and then to make art with them—that’s what you dream of.”
For Laura Dern, the project’s appeal lay in its honest depiction of relationships. The film opens with Alex and Tess’s separation, offering little explanation for how they arrived at this point. “We don’t know how we got here. Most of us don’t in moments of despair,” Dern said, admiring the script’s “unbelievable complexity of the relationship.” It’s a sentiment that resonates throughout the film, as both characters navigate the murky waters of midlife and self-discovery.
Filmed on location in New York, Is This Thing On? boasts a sense of authenticity that extends beyond the city’s iconic skyline. Scenes with Alex and Tess’s sons were shot at the same school Cooper’s daughter, Lea, attends, while Cooper’s own dogs, Charlie and Lucy, make cameos as the family pets. “They’re incredible,” Cooper joked. “I’ll let them know when I get home that you gave a shout-out to Charlie and Lucy.” These personal touches lend the film an intimacy that’s hard to fake, grounding its comedy in the everyday messiness of real life.
The stand-up scenes, in particular, have drawn praise for their realism. Actual New York comedians and genuine audiences populate the clubs where Alex tries—and often fails—to land his jokes. As Cooper described it, “Many tourists in the crowd had no idea who Will was.” That rawness, combined with Arnett’s willingness to embrace failure, gives the film its comedic edge. But it’s not all laughs. The movie’s heart lies in its exploration of communication and empathy, themes Cooper highlighted when asked about the film’s message. “My hope, and it is what I believe, is that as the world gets smaller with technology, we actually are so much more aware of everybody in the world. Maybe it’s an opportunity for us to communicate, as opposed to being sort of tribalistic.”
Despite its modest scale compared to previous Cooper projects, Is This Thing On? has been favorably compared to other recent relationship dramas that found critical acclaim—films like Past Lives and A Real Pain. As Prestige Junkie observed, “It’s maybe the most divorced man movie ever made. (A middle-aged guy does stand-up comedy, in this economy? Was podcasting not available?) But Cooper’s empathy for the characters and the way the script balances the perspectives of Alex and Tess separate it from the logline.” Dern, in particular, has been singled out for her performance, with some critics calling her a worthy contender for best actress.
Still, the road to Oscar glory is anything but certain. While Cooper’s previous films have stormed the awards circuit, Is This Thing On? is positioned as more of an underdog. The lack of early awards buzz could work in its favor, allowing the film to build momentum organically as more audiences discover its charm. As one critic noted, “Maybe Cooper has awards season right where he wants it: He gets to play the underdog.”
For now, the team behind Is This Thing On? seems content to let the work speak for itself. With a release date set for December 19, and screenings already underway for industry insiders, the film is poised to reach a wider audience just in time for awards season. Whether or not it nabs the big prizes, Cooper, Arnett, and Dern have crafted a movie that’s as funny as it is genuine—a rare feat in any year, and a welcome one in 2025.
Sometimes, the biggest laughs—and the deepest truths—come from simply stepping up to the mic and seeing what happens next.
