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Will Arnett is no stranger to comedy — but when Bradley Cooper asked him to bomb on purpose, the challenge turned surprisingly real.
In Cooper’s heartfelt new film “Is This Thing On?”, hitting theaters December 19, the Arrested Development and SmartLess star plays Alex, a middle-aged finance executive whose life falls apart after separating from his wife, Tess (Laura Dern). Searching for meaning, Alex stumbles into stand-up comedy — only to discover that making people laugh is harder than it looks.
The dramedy, which closed the 2025 New York Film Festival on October 10, is being praised for its emotional honesty and understated humor. But what makes the film feel so authentic, according to Cooper, is that Arnett really did bomb in real comedy clubs while filming.
“There were some great bombs,” Arnett recalled. “The only people laughing were Bradley and our friend Bob in the back, because I was bombing and couldn’t recover.”
A Stand-Up Story That Feels Personal
For Cooper, “Is This Thing On?” marks his third turn as a director, following A Star Is Born (2018) and Maestro (2023). Both were nominated for multiple Oscars and cemented Cooper’s reputation as one of Hollywood’s most ambitious filmmakers. But this time, he says, the story came from a deeply personal place.
“It’s about midlife, about trying to rediscover who you are when everything you built starts falling apart,” Cooper said after the film’s premiere. “It’s funny, it’s sad, and it’s all real.”
The screenplay was co-written by Cooper, Arnett, and longtime friend John Bishop, blending sharp humor with raw introspection. Cooper calls it a “midlife catharsis” movie — a blend of emotional reckoning and reinvention.
The film opens with Alex and Tess in the midst of a quiet separation. There’s no dramatic betrayal or screaming match; just a realization that they’ve drifted apart. “Most of us don’t know how we got here,” Dern said during the post-screening Q&A. “That’s what makes their story so universal — the confusion, the tenderness, the loss.”
When Art Imitates Life
Arnett may be known for his quick wit and booming voice, but for “Is This Thing On?” he had to play against type. His character’s stand-up sets are raw, awkward, and often painfully unfunny — exactly as Cooper wanted them.
“He’s not the Michael Jordan of comedy,” Arnett laughed. “When he first gets on stage, he has no idea what he’s doing. The challenge was showing how he slowly gets more comfortable — but not too good.”
To make it real, the production filmed in actual New York comedy clubs, often with unsuspecting audiences. Some tourists didn’t even recognize Arnett — which made the experience even more nerve-wracking.
Cooper said he loved watching those moments unfold.
“For him to play a guy who’s funny but not Will Arnett funny — that’s the brilliance,” Cooper said. “He’s performing bad comedy convincingly, and that’s actually really hard to do.”
The actor-director also slipped into a supporting role himself — as an eccentric pothead who befriends Alex and offers unlikely wisdom about marriage and life.
A Movie Made Among Friends
Cooper and Arnett’s off-screen friendship stretches back decades, and that comfort level shines through on camera. Add Laura Dern — another longtime friend — and the film became something of a creative reunion.
“These two people know every single thing I’ve been through,” Cooper said. “To make art with people you love and trust — that’s what you dream of.”
Even the film’s setting was deeply personal. Scenes featuring Alex and Tess’s children were shot at the same school Cooper’s daughter, Lea, attends, and his dogs, Charlie and Lucy, play the family pets. “They’re incredible,” Cooper joked. “I’ll let them know they got a shout-out.”
Humor, Heart, and the Art of Failure
Though “Is This Thing On?” is packed with emotional moments, it’s also filled with humor — the kind that comes from embarrassment, vulnerability, and self-awareness.
Arnett, who’s made a career out of playing larger-than-life characters, said the experience humbled him. “There’s nothing like bombing in front of real people to remind you you’re human,” he said.
But Cooper believes that vulnerability is exactly what makes Arnett’s performance special.
“He’s playing a man who’s using laughter to heal,” Cooper explained. “And the beautiful irony is that the only way to play that truthfully was for Will to step into a space where he wasn’t funny — to risk failure, to feel that discomfort.”
The result, critics at the festival say, is a tender, funny, and deeply human exploration of reinvention.
The Director’s Reflection
Asked what he learned from making the film, Cooper flashed a grin:
“That cameras are heavy,” he joked. “I’ve always had a big butt and glutes, and now I finally have a reason for it.”
Then, more seriously, he reflected:
“I was surprised by how relaxed I felt. There’s something freeing about creating with people who’ve known you forever. You can be honest. You can be weird. You can bomb — and still feel safe.”
A Warm, Honest Curtain Call
As the credits rolled at the New York Film Festival, audiences gave “Is This Thing On?” a standing ovation. The closing-night slot — which capped a lineup featuring stars like Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and Daniel Day-Lewis — cemented the film as one of the festival’s most talked-about premieres.
For Arnett, it’s not just a career highlight but a creative rebirth. For Cooper, it’s another intimate, emotionally rich addition to his growing directorial legacy.
And for audiences, “Is This Thing On?” offers a gentle reminder that sometimes the most meaningful punchlines come from the pain we’re brave enough to share.
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