IS THIS THING ON? – Review by Diane Carson
Is This Thing On? explores a marriage in crisis.
Good relationships, both short and long ones, dissolve in numerous unique ways. Individuals drift apart immersed in disparate interests, maturing at different rates, or just growing distracted from each other by the overwhelming demands of their worlds—jobs, children, parents, colleagues. For Alex and Tess Novak the increasing emotional distance from each other is as perplexing as it is complex, and so, after twenty years of marriage, they separate. The way Alex deals with his confusion over his and Tess’ separation makes Is This Thing On? worth a look. For Alex ends up baring his confusion and distress through standup comedy gigs, a unique way of coping.
Set in present-day New York, Alex (Will Arnett) works in finance while Tess (Laura Dern) ferries their twin ten-year-old boys here and there, struggling to anchor herself in suburban America after the rewarding life of an Olympic volleyball athlete. Amicably and quite casually, they decide to follow their own paths to greater fulfillment. One night in the city, on a whim and a desire for a drink, Alex agrees to do a standup routine at the Comedy Cellar, an involvement that gets him into the place free versus the $15 cover he doesn’t have on him. Thus begins his therapeutic personal exploration, all scripted but shot in performances before an unrehearsed live audience. One night, Tess accidentally sits with a friend in the club, shocked, appalled, and enlightened by what she hears. A weekend retreat with friends brings Tess and Alex into awkward, intense interaction as, in an absorbing, lengthy scene, they bare their souls as they have previously never had the insight or courage to do.
At a recent zoom press conference, the takeaway is that, as Laura Dern observes, for director Bradley Cooper, “At the end of the day, it’s always about the truth.” Co-writer with Cooper and Mark Chappell, Will Arnett astutely notes that, “This is the first time they talk about what has happened in a real way.” He adds, “It’s easy to play anger in those moments, but anger is not it. They understand the things you can touch and the things you can’t touch because they’re too tough and too intimate.” They all also realize that, as Arnett affirms, “when Tess says, ‘I thought you and the kids would be enough and you aren’t,’ it’s as hard for Tess to say as for Alex to hear.” These comments land with shattering, crushing force, followed by “the worst thing he could ever say, that she’s a downer.” The cliché may be that the truth will set you free, but the impact of such stunning, authentic perception upends their equilibrium, just as insightful but painful comments do for most of us.
Based on John Bishop’s actual experiences twenty-five years ago, this Manchester, England, pharmaceutical salesman turned to comedy during his divorce and has, since then, become a U.K. comedy star. Adapting this perceptive, poignant story, Cooper made sure the vulnerable and uncomfortable details dictate every scene. Will Alex and Tess reconcile? That must remain an answer for the audience to discover and ponder. Is This Thing On? screens at cinemas now.
