Is This Thing On?
The brief
Cooper directs himself into familiar midlife crisis territory, but Will Arnett's surprisingly grounded turn as a dad discovering stand-up comedy keeps this from feeling like another vanity project. The film finds its rhythm in quiet moments between Arnett and Laura Dern as they figure out how to be decent humans to each other while everything falls apart, even if the comedy club scenes feel a bit paint-by-numbers. At just over two hours, it meanders more than it should, but the emotional honesty in the final act mostly earns the runtime. Perfect for anyone who loved Marriage Story but wished it had more laughs and less lawyers.
The verdict
If you're drawn to character-driven dramedies about flawed people trying to salvage their relationships and don't mind a slower pace, this delivers genuine laughs alongside surprising emotional depth. If you're expecting tight pacing or avoid stories about midlife malaise, the two-hour runtime and familiar territory will likely test your patience.
Watch with
- 👫 Couples navigating relationship changes
- 👥 Friends who appreciate character-driven dramedies
- ⚠️ Skip if you prefer fast-paced comedies
Heads up
- Divorce and marital dissolution themes (moderate)
- Adult relationship discussions (brief)
- Emotional family separation scenes (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Bradley Cooper
- Cast
- Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, Sean Hayes
Official synopsis
As their marriage quietly unravels, Alex faces middle age and an impending divorce, seeking new purpose in
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with Two Lovers (2008)
Both explore fractured relationships and middle-aged romantic uncertainty with intimate focus.
Total runtime: 2h 1m + 1h 50m = 3h 51m
