Bradley Cooper27s Is This Thing On Delivers Bittersweet Laughs

The new comedy-drama Is This Thing On? has taken the film world by storm, not just for its star-studded cast and crew, but for the way it transforms the real-life struggles of British comedian John Bishop into a heartfelt, sometimes painfully honest exploration of marriage, midlife crisis, and the search for meaning through laughter. With Will Arnett and Laura Dern in the lead roles, and Bradley Cooper both directing and co-starring, the film has generated a wave of critical discussion and public curiosity since its UK cinema premiere on Friday, January 30, 2026.

At its core, Is This Thing On? draws loose inspiration from the marital woes that propelled John Bishop into stand-up comedy, but the film takes creative liberties, relocating the story from the UK to the bustling streets of New York City. The fictional Alex Novak (played by Arnett) and his wife Tess (Dern) find their marriage at a breaking point. Both are wrestling with personal and professional dissatisfaction, and when Tess decides to end things, Alex spirals into a classic midlife crisis. What’s a man to do when life falls apart? In Alex’s case, he stumbles—almost literally—into the world of stand-up comedy after accidentally signing up for an open mic night at the Comedy Cellar.

Alex’s first foray into comedy is raw and unfiltered, as he uses the stage to process his heartbreak and confusion. The audiences respond warmly to his off-the-cuff reflections about his failed marriage, and the catharsis he finds in making people laugh becomes a surprising form of therapy. As he continues to perform, Tess, now with a new boyfriend (played by Peyton Manning), stumbles upon one of Alex’s sets. This unexpected encounter forces both of them to confront the unresolved issues in their relationship and the possibility of reconciliation.

The film doesn’t just focus on Alex and Tess; it delves into the impact of their separation on their young sons, Felix (Blake Kane) and Jude (Calvin Knegten). In one poignant scene, the boys discover their father’s ‘joke book,’ filled with anecdotes and deeply personal musings about the family’s fractured state. Alex attempts to explain his material by telling them, “I’m making up stories, because a lot of stuff is changing.” It’s a simple line, but it encapsulates the film’s gentle approach to the complexities of family life and personal growth.

Supporting characters add further depth and humor. Bradley Cooper, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Arnett and Mark Chappell, appears as Balls, Alex’s best friend, while Amy Sedaris emcees the comedy club’s open mic nights. The couple’s circle of friends, including Christine (Andra Day), Stephen (Sean Hayes), and Geoffrey (Scott Icenogle), try to keep things light, offering moments of comic relief amid the emotional turmoil. Alex’s parents, played by Ciaran Hinds and Christine Ebersole, provide the kind of tough love and emotional support that only parents can.

Cinematographer Matthew Libatique, known for his kinetic visual style, collaborates with Cooper to inject the comedy club sequences with a jittery energy that mirrors Alex’s nerves and adrenaline on stage. The film wears its heart on its sleeve, never shying away from the awkwardness and vulnerability that come with starting over in middle age.

Critical reception to Is This Thing On? has been mixed, but there’s near-universal praise for the performances of Arnett and Dern. According to The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney describes the film as a “tenderly observed third feature” for Cooper, highlighting the “gorgeous performances of unimpeachable naturalness from Will Arnett and Laura Dern.” Rooney adds that the film is “an unassuming comic drama that sneaks up on you, its emotional honesty fueled by” its leads.

Deadline’s Pete Hammond echoes this sentiment, writing, “Arnett has rarely been given this kind of leading opportunity on screen, and he is superb here, an actor meeting a role that seems like it had his name written on it all along. Dern, as you might expect, also makes Tess fully three-dimensional, a woman trying desperately to come unstuck and reconnect with the person she once was.”

The Guardian’s Adrian Horton calls the film “a subtle, self-deprecating, ultimately endearing rom-com between two people who were married for 20 years,” and singles out the chemistry between the leads: “Dern is positively sprightly as Tess reconnects with an older version of herself, Arnett lumbering with the pain of new revelations, both jittery on the edge of something new in what becomes an absorbing portrait of a relationship in flux.” Horton also notes, “Is This Thing On? starts with a punchline – sad divorced dad stumbles into a bar as a cry for help – and smartly works backward; like a great routine, beneath the jokes lurks something tender, grounded and real.”

Not all critics are fully on board, however. IndieWire’s Ryan Latanzzio finds the film “blandly reassuring, at times tedious and tunnel-visioned,” and criticizes its lack of dramatic tension, stating, “For a film about comedy as part of its elevator pitch, Is This Thing On? is curiously unfunny, with Cooper preferring to linger on the film’s melancholy, Marriage Story-lite core as Alex and Tess eventually, through a bit of movie magic in the shape of a screenplay, find their way back to each other.” Latanzzio also laments, “it never feels like there’s any kind of catharsis, any release at the end of the crescendo.”

Variety’s Owen Gleiberman describes the movie as “feel-good” and “an observant, bittersweet, and highly watchable movie, yet there’s an inner softness to it, a slightly pandering quality.” He adds, however, that it is “a minor movie that cushions the agony of a marital split in ways that can feel like it’s cutting corners.”

Despite the mixed reviews, the consensus seems to be that Is This Thing On? is a charming, gently humorous study of a marriage falling apart and slowly piecing itself back together. The film’s strength lies in its willingness to mine genuine emotion from everyday heartache, and in the natural, self-deprecating performances of its leads. Whether you’re a fan of John Bishop’s comedy or simply in the mood for a smart, emotionally honest romantic comedy, this film is worth a look. As Cooper’s first foray into comedy after acclaimed directorial efforts like A Star is Born and Maestro, Is This Thing On? proves he’s just as adept at finding humor in pain as he is at orchestrating grand cinematic moments.

With its blend of laughter, heartbreak, and the messy, beautiful reality of family life, Is This Thing On? offers audiences a chance to reflect on their own relationships—and maybe even find a little catharsis in the process.