Reviews

You wouldn’t expect British comedian John Bishop to serve as the inspiration for a Hollywood movie – but here we are!

Is This Thing On?, directed by Bradley Cooper, stars Will Arnett as Alex, who seems to be going through his life on autopilot. He and his longtime wife Tess (Laura Dern) agree to separate, and he moves into his own nondescript apartment.

During his painful time, Alex walks into the Comedy Cellar in New York City and puts his name down for an open mic night to avoid paying the entrance charge.

He tries stand-up comedy for the first time, and it has a huge impact on his life – he finds a renewed passion and energy, which in turn helps reignite his spark with Tess.

Believe it or not, that initial jumping-off point is based on Bishop, who was a temporarily-separated salesman 25 years ago when he first tried his hand at comedy for the same reason – to avoid paying the admission fee. However, his comedy journey began at a pub in Manchester, not the famed Comedy Cellar.

After directing major awards players like A Star Is Born and Maestro, Cooper has turned to more low-key fare, a heart-warming, charming comedy-drama that shows how important it is to have purpose and community in your life.

This inspiring film reminds us that it’s never too late to try something new or go back to something you loved, as former Olympic volleyball player Tess returns to the sport as a coach after years of being defined as a mum and wife.

The stand-up comedy scenes are nerve-wracking because you’re bracing yourself for Alex to bomb, but thankfully, there aren’t too many of those. He has talent, but he’s rough around the edges and needs a lot of practice to hone his act.

Arnett, who is best known for his comedy work, is unsurprisingly excellent in the comedy scenes, despite his lack of stand-up experience. But he is the most impressive in dramatic mode, as we get to see a new, vulnerable side to him.

He is well-matched with the outstanding Dern, who really makes the most of her supporting role and makes her character as important as Alex. She is not simply the stereotypical estranged wife; she has a fleshed-out personality of her own.

Thanks to the strong script and the two brilliant lead performances, Is This Thing On? is a winning film that is both heartfelt and laugh-out-loud funny.

In cinemas from Friday 30th January

By Hannah Wales

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