The slangy title Is This Thing On? refers to the stage microphone at a New York comedy club, and also to the “state of the union” of the film’s leading couple, Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern). This drama-light tale is about a marriage in question, in which Alex has moved into his own apartment because Tess wants a time-out. The two stay close for their children, but Alex doesn’t want a separation. This tale, both serious and light, is not a downer. By the end of the film, we have witnessed a process that is worth our time.
This is a showcase role for Arnett, the Canadian-American actor and comedian, formerly of TV’s Arrested Development and cohost of the Smartless podcast with Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes. Arnett is also one of the film’s three co-writers, along with British screen and TV writer Mark Chappell, and Arnett’s long-time friend Bradley Cooper, who directs and appears in the cast.
Alex is brought to life by Arnett’s firm but gentle demeanor, a quality we can attribute as much to his natural delivery as his six-foot-two stature, strong voice, and kind presentation. Apparently, Arnett is also humble. He confessed to People.com how nervous he felt about working with Laura Dern because of her great talent and achievements. On a nervous scale of one to ten, says Arnett, “I was probably a million.”
In the film, married couple Alex and Tara, now in their middle years, are each exploring new avenues. While Tara begins coaching young athletes, Alex is seeking a creative outlet to offset a dull job in finance. In search of entertainment, he wanders into a standup comedy club, one of those subterranean venues where novices test their material. But he discovers he doesn’t have enough cash for the cover charge. Instead of leaving, he makes the rash decision to perform, which gives him free admission. All he needs now is five minutes of material!
Suddenly, he’s standing at the mike in front of a small audience. With nothing prepared, he speaks candidly about himself and his personal life in a humble tone. It’s not the funniest routine, but it’s honest, and it’s an emotional release. Alex connects with the crowd, and he’s hooked.
We are rooting for Alex as he continues to make appearances, but his material seems to grow more stressed and less funny—bordering on not funny. Here’s my question: Why would the screenwriting team put Alex on a comedy stage to rant about his life—with no punchlines? This film is inspired in part by an Englishman named John Bishop, whose broken life took a wild turn upward when he became one of Britain’s top standup comedians. Did the writers make a leap without bringing us along? We’ll never know.
While a marriage gone south is not a happy topic, it can be instructive. And it seems to be the bread and butter of this story, executed by some been-there, done-that participants. Director Bradley Cooper is divorced. Will Arnett is also divorced (he was married to comedian Amy Poehler for ten years). The divorce took its toll on Arnett, but their relationship has since become collaborative in raising their two children.
We all argue. But an ailing partnership requires arguing with purpose, since relationships don’t take care of themselves. This grownup process requires partners to park their egos when sharing what’s making them unhappy. That’s a leap not everyone can make. Some unions can’t be salvaged. But if both sides are realistic and open-minded, there is hope.
Whether we’re married, single with friends, or just trying to get along with our family, this film reminds us that disagreements are part of honesty. And discussion is a tool that mends relationships. It reveals things we didn’t understand, while putting them in context. Alex’s words speak volumes: “I was unhappy in our marriage; I wasn’t unhappy with our marriage.” Sometimes a few words can change everything.