STORYLINE: As their marriage unravels, Alex faces middle age and divorce, seeking new purpose in the New York comedy scene. Meanwhile, his wife Tess confronts sacrifices made for their family, forcing them to navigate co-parenting and identities. (IMDb)

    Not every Hollywood relationship movie is a boy meets girl movie, like Notting Hill (1999).  In circulation, are a fair amount of break uo movies to watch. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet co star in the incredible film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004).  One could watch The War of the Roses (1989) or its 2025 remake, The Roses.  Not all are dramatic. For instance, Splitsville (2025) has a good since of humor to it.  Will Arnett, Laura Dern, and Bradley Cooper (who also directs the film) co-star together on the latest break up movie, Is This Thing On?

    Following A Star is Born (2018) and Maestro (2023), Is This Thing On continues to feature performance in Bradley Cooper directed features. This one trades music for stand up comedy.  Alex Novax, played by Will Arnett, tales up stand up comedy as a sort of therapy to his divorce.  Is he good at it?  Yea, I am not spoiling that.

    The movie leans primarily towards the dramatic.  Constantly, throughout the film are subtle comedic moments.  They range from sweet, to awkward, and feature down right hysterical along the way.  This mixture of comedy flavors and drama create a well well balanced, entertaining feature film.

    At some point during the movie, I am not sure when, I realized that this is not the first with Laura Dern to feature the subject of divorce.  She won Oscar for her supporting performance in Marriage Story (2019).  Marriage Story is a film I did not care for.  It was the kind of movie that was art for the sake of art.  It didn’t have much more to it then that. Still it’s a thought that crossed my mind.

    Is This Thing On? balanced the drama and the comedy well.  It was a movie I enjoyed.

   Until next time I will see you at the movies!