Comedy & sadness blend for Is This Thing On?

After a splashy directing debut with A Star is Born and impressive orchestral biopic in Maestro, Bradley Cooper takes a low-key approach to part of the entertainment world for Is This Thing On?. Joining Mark Chappell and star Will Arnett as writers, Cooper uses the Manhattan comedy scene to enliven a story whose main focus involves an injured marriage. Funny man Arnett starts serious as a finance guy who drops into a comedy club spur the moment and avoids paying for his drinks by standing up on stage and randomly riffing about his current situation in a marriage where neither partner feels happy. Club scenes provide the movie’s humor, while action off stage offers wistful perceptions on how humans interact after years together—not just as a couple but as people with a circle of friends. Not surprisingly, Cooper puts together a terrific cast to play this group, himself included. Laura Dern, Andra Day, Christine Ebersole, and Peyton Manning join the mix along with regulars on the Manhattan comedy circuit. Using a handheld camera and close up angles, Cooper captures a fly-on-the-wall sensibility that suits the movie’s naturalistic tone. An "everyman” quality comes off because even though most of the characters live in upscale privilege, they go through issues faced by so many who find themselves living in mundane circumstances they never sought. Though this sounds depressing, characters also show the fluidity of emotions, creating a project that ultimately involves growth, understanding, and hope—with a few laughs thrown in.