Bradley Cooper‘s Is This Thing On? (Searchlight), a semi-biographical dramedy, will close the 2025 New York Film Festival with a world premiere screening on Friday, 10.10.25.
Pic is “inspired” by the early career moves of stand-up comic John Bishop, who broke into the biz in 2000 at age 34.
Bishop is called “Alex” in the film, and is played by the 55 year-old Will Arnett. Alex’s wife Tess is played by the 58 year-old Laura Dern. Cooper has directed the film as well as cowritten (with Arnett and Mark Chappell) and produced. He also plays Alex’s best friend Arnie.
Wiki excerpt: “Bishop performed stand-up comedy for the first time in Manchester in October 2000, and the following year, made it to the final of all the major new act competitions, including ‘So You Think You’re Funny’, the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Awards, the BBC New Comedy Awards, and the City Life North West Comedian of the Year Award, which he won.”
Posted by Matt Neglia on 7.30.25: “In a pair of galvanizing, deeply honest performances” — Neglia has apparenly seen it — “Will Arnett and Laura Dern play Alex and Tess Novak, whose marriage has reached an impasse. With amicable sorrow, the couple — parents of two young boys — mutually agree to split up.
“Yet in Cooper’s keenly observed comic drama, their separation leads to unpredictable midlife self-reckonings, most dramatically in Alex’s wild career pivot to become a confessional stand-up comedian in New York City’s West Village, where he finds new direction and camaraderie.
“This seemingly outlandish scenario — in a script by Cooper, Arnett, and Mark Chappell, inspired by the true story of British comedian John Bishop — is never played for easy laughs, while Cooper uses his penchant for naturalism to give the actors space to find their complicated centers. In his beautifully lived-in third feature following A Star Is Born and Maestro (NYFF61), Cooper confirms his dexterity for representing the complexities of human relationships, constructing a film that is both lacerating and sweet-souled, funny and tender.
“Is This Thing On? features a stacked, stellar supporting cast, including Andra Day, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, Sean Hayes, Peyton Manning and Amy Sedaris, as well as charming assistance from New York stand-up standbys such as Chloe Radcliffe, Reggie Conquest and Jordan Jensen, supplying the film its downtown authenticity.”
