May 18, 2026
Quiet Acceptance and Comic Relief: Unpacking 'Is This Thing On?'
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RSS Feed In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica delve into the poignant exploration of relationships in Bradley Cooper's latest film, *Is This Thing On?* The film presents a refreshing take on the end of a marriage, focusing on the quiet acceptance between Alex and Tess Novak, played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern, rather than the typical dramatic fare. Their 26-year marriage concludes not with chaos, but with a simple acknowledgment that it's over, leading to a civil yet unsettling dynamic as they adjust to their new lives apart.
The narrative takes a turn when Alex finds solace in stand-up comedy, using his personal experiences as material. Chris and Jessica discuss the raw honesty of his performances and how they serve as a therapeutic outlet for his emotions. The episode highlights a pivotal moment when Tess unexpectedly attends one of Alex's shows, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of their individual journeys. Tess, a former US volleyball player, embarks on her own transformation, becoming a coach and rediscovering her identity.
The hosts also touch on the supporting characters, including Alex's best friends Christine and Balls, portrayed by Andrew Day and Bradley Cooper, whose tumultuous relationship offers a contrasting perspective on marriage. Chris and Jessica commend the performances, particularly noting Laura Dern's ability to convey the complexities of her character with depth and nuance.
While the film grapples with significant themes of connection, identity, and reinvention, the hosts acknowledge its occasional Hollywood gloss. Despite some uneven pacing, they agree that it poses thought-provoking questions about relationships and emotional connection. Inspired by the true story of comedian John Bishop, *Is This Thing On?* is a heartfelt cinematic experience that resonates with anyone reflecting on love and loss.
With a score of 7.5 out of 10, this episode invites listeners to consider the intricacies of relationships through the lens of humor and authenticity. Join Chris and Jessica as they unpack this engaging film, reminding us that even the messiest of breakups can lead to self-discovery and growth.
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This episode includes AI-generated content.
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Chris: Okay, so here's something to think about.
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What if the end of a marriage wasn't about
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00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:07.040
drama or betrayal, but just
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00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:10.320
quiet acceptance? That's the premise
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00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:12.800
Bradley Cooper explores in his latest film,
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00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:15.880
Is this Thing On? And it's
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00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:17.200
surprisingly relatable.
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Jessica: That's such an understated way to approach a
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00:00:20.040 --> 00:00:22.640
breakup. Most movies about relationships
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00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.480
falling apart tend to go big. Fights,
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00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:28.470
tears, dramatic exits. What's the story
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00:00:28.470 --> 00:00:28.830
here?
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00:00:30.110 --> 00:00:32.430
Chris: The film opens with Alex and Tess Novak,
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played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern,
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deciding to end their 26 year marriage.
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There's no shouting or slamming doors, just a
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simple mutual acknowledgment that it's over.
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Alex moves into a small bachelor pad while
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Tess stays in the family home with their twin
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10 year old boys. It's all very civil,
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almost unsettlingly so.
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Jessica: That's such a different tone from what you'd
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00:00:54.710 --> 00:00:57.620
expect. So what drives the narrative
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00:00:57.620 --> 00:00:59.940
forward? It doesn't sound like there's much
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00:00:59.940 --> 00:01:00.500
conflict.
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Chris: The story really picks up when Alex stumbles
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into stand up comedy. He's walking past a
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club, doesn't want to pay the $15 cover
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charge and is told he can get in for free if
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he does a five minute set.
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So he gets up on stage with no plan,
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no material, and just starts talking about
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his marriage breakdown. It's raw, it's
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honest and somehow it works.
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The audience connects with him and he finds
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this unexpected outlet for his emotions.
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Jessica: That's such an interesting choice for a
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00:01:33.960 --> 00:01:36.560
character arc. Comedy is therapy.
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It makes sense. Some of the best
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comedians turn their pain into humor, but I
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imagine this complicates things with Tess.
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How does she react to Alex airing their
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personal life on stage?
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Chris: That's where things get really interesting.
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One night Tess shows up at a comedy club
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where Alex is performing, completely unaware
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of his new hobby. And Alex has no idea
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she's in the audience. It's this pivotal
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00:02:02.170 --> 00:02:04.050
moment in the film, almost like a, ah,
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crossroads for their relationship. Tess
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00:02:06.770 --> 00:02:09.450
isn't just there to watch Alex though. She's
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also going through her own transformation.
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She's a former US volleyball player and she
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decides to get back into the sport, this time
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as a coach.
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Jessica: I love that Tess has her own arc. It's not
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just about Alex's journey. She's
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rediscovering herself too. It sounds like the
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movie gives equal weight to both characters
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stories.
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Chris: Exactly. And it's not just about Alex and,
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uh, Tess. Their best friends Christine and
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Balls, yes, his name is Balls. Are also
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dealing with a crumbling marriage. Christine,
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played by Andra Day, is Angry and frustrated.
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While Balls, played by Bradley Cooper, is a
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struggling B grade actor. Their relationship
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is much more volatile, almost like a mirror
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to Alex and Tess's quieter dynamic.
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Jessica: Wait, his name is Balls?
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That's a choice, but I
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guess it adds some levity to what sounds like
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a pretty heavy story. How does Bradley
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Cooper do in the role?
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Chris: He's great. He's heavily bearded and almost
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unrecognizable, but he brings this mix of
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humor and sadness to the character.
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Andraday is fantastic too. She
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channels this pent up energy, this simmering
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anger that feels so real. Their
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dynamic adds another layer to the film,
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showing a different kind of marital struggle.
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Jessica: It sounds like the movie is juggling a lot.
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Two marriages, individual character arcs,
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comedy, drama. Does it all come
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together or does it feel a bit scattered?
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Chris: It takes a little while to find its footing.
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The beginning feels a bit awkward, both in
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terms of the story and how it's presented.
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But once it gains traction, it becomes a more
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conventional narrative. There's a rawness to
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it, especially in the way the characters
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express their frustrations and desires.
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Will Arnett is very authentic as Alex,
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stumbling his way through this new chapter of
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his life. And Laura Dern, as always, is
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phenomenal. She plays Tess with such depth
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and nuance, you can feel her disappointment,
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her longing, her resilience.
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Jessica: Laura Dern is incredible. She has this way
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of making you feel everything her character
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is going through.
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And it sounds like the supporting cast is
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strong too. Christine Ebersole and
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Ciaran Hynes play Alex's parents. Right?
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Chris: Yes, and they're great. Ebersole plays
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Marilyn, Alex's mother, who's not exactly
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warm or empathetic. She's a bit
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detached, almost cold. Heinz, on
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the other hand, plays Jan, Alex's father,
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who's much more in tune with his son. Their
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dynamic adds another layer to Alex's story,
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showing where some of his insecurities and
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struggles might come from.
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Jessica: It sounds like the movie touches on a lot of
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themes. Connection, identity,
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reinvention. Does it feel heavy handed
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or does it strike the right balance?
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Chris: It's a bit of both. There are moments where
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it leans into the Hollywood treatment. Things
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get a little too neat, a little too sweet.
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But overall it raises important questions
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about what it means to connect with someone
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and what happens when that connection fades.
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It's not perfect, but it's heartfelt and
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thought provoking.
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Jessica: And it's inspired by a true story. Right.
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Something about British comedian John Bishop.
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Chris: M. That's right. In 2000, Bishop
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was separated from his wife and decided to
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try an open mic night. He ended up using his
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personal experiences as material and it
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became a turning point for him. His wife even
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showed up at one of his shows without knowing
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he was performing, which is directly mirrored
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in the film. Bishop shared this story with
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Will Arnett, who co wrote the screenplay with
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Bradley Cooper and Marc Chappelle.
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Jessica: That's such a fascinating origin story. It
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makes the film feel more authentic knowing
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it's rooted in real life experiences.
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So, final thoughts? Would you recommend
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it?
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Chris: I would. It's not a flawless film, but
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it's worth watching for the performances and
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the themes it explores. It's rated um,
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M and I'd give it a solid 7.5 out of
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10.
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Jessica: Sounds like one to check out. I love movies
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that make you think about life and
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relationships, even if they're a little
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messy. Thanks for walking me through it.
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You've been listening to movies first
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available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
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iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
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player.
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Chris: You can also stream on demand@bytes.com
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this has been another quality podcast
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production from bytes.com.
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Chris: Okay, so here's something to think about.
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00:00:02.560 --> 00:00:04.600
What if the end of a marriage wasn't about
2
00:00:04.600 --> 00:00:07.040
drama or betrayal, but just
3
00:00:07.600 --> 00:00:10.320
quiet acceptance? That's the premise
4
00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:12.800
Bradley Cooper explores in his latest film,
5
00:00:13.120 --> 00:00:15.880
Is this Thing On? And it's
6
00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:17.200
surprisingly relatable.
7
00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:20.040
Jessica: That's such an understated way to approach a
8
00:00:20.040 --> 00:00:22.640
breakup. Most movies about relationships
9
00:00:22.640 --> 00:00:25.480
falling apart tend to go big. Fights,
10
00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:28.470
tears, dramatic exits. What's the story
11
00:00:28.470 --> 00:00:28.830
here?
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Chris: The film opens with Alex and Tess Novak,
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played by Will Arnett and Laura Dern,
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00:00:34.750 --> 00:00:37.070
deciding to end their 26 year marriage.
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There's no shouting or slamming doors, just a
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00:00:40.590 --> 00:00:42.670
simple mutual acknowledgment that it's over.
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Alex moves into a small bachelor pad while
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00:00:45.870 --> 00:00:47.870
Tess stays in the family home with their twin
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00:00:47.870 --> 00:00:50.670
10 year old boys. It's all very civil,
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00:00:50.670 --> 00:00:52.430
almost unsettlingly so.
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Jessica: That's such a different tone from what you'd
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00:00:54.710 --> 00:00:57.620
expect. So what drives the narrative
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00:00:57.620 --> 00:00:59.940
forward? It doesn't sound like there's much
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conflict.
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Chris: The story really picks up when Alex stumbles
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into stand up comedy. He's walking past a
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club, doesn't want to pay the $15 cover
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charge and is told he can get in for free if
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he does a five minute set.
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So he gets up on stage with no plan,
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no material, and just starts talking about
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his marriage breakdown. It's raw, it's
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honest and somehow it works.
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The audience connects with him and he finds
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this unexpected outlet for his emotions.
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Jessica: That's such an interesting choice for a
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00:01:33.960 --> 00:01:36.560
character arc. Comedy is therapy.
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It makes sense. Some of the best
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comedians turn their pain into humor, but I
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imagine this complicates things with Tess.
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How does she react to Alex airing their
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personal life on stage?
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Chris: That's where things get really interesting.
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One night Tess shows up at a comedy club
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where Alex is performing, completely unaware
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of his new hobby. And Alex has no idea
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she's in the audience. It's this pivotal
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00:02:02.170 --> 00:02:04.050
moment in the film, almost like a, ah,
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crossroads for their relationship. Tess
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isn't just there to watch Alex though. She's
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also going through her own transformation.
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She's a former US volleyball player and she
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00:02:14.660 --> 00:02:17.260
decides to get back into the sport, this time
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as a coach.
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Jessica: I love that Tess has her own arc. It's not
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just about Alex's journey. She's
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rediscovering herself too. It sounds like the
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00:02:26.340 --> 00:02:28.340
movie gives equal weight to both characters
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00:02:28.340 --> 00:02:28.860
stories.
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Chris: Exactly. And it's not just about Alex and,
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uh, Tess. Their best friends Christine and
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Balls, yes, his name is Balls. Are also
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dealing with a crumbling marriage. Christine,
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played by Andra Day, is Angry and frustrated.
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While Balls, played by Bradley Cooper, is a
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struggling B grade actor. Their relationship
67
00:02:48.430 --> 00:02:50.830
is much more volatile, almost like a mirror
68
00:02:50.830 --> 00:02:52.950
to Alex and Tess's quieter dynamic.
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00:02:53.670 --> 00:02:55.830
Jessica: Wait, his name is Balls?
70
00:02:56.470 --> 00:02:59.430
That's a choice, but I
71
00:02:59.430 --> 00:03:01.390
guess it adds some levity to what sounds like
72
00:03:01.390 --> 00:03:04.030
a pretty heavy story. How does Bradley
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00:03:04.030 --> 00:03:05.030
Cooper do in the role?
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00:03:06.070 --> 00:03:08.560
Chris: He's great. He's heavily bearded and almost
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00:03:08.560 --> 00:03:11.440
unrecognizable, but he brings this mix of
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00:03:11.440 --> 00:03:13.240
humor and sadness to the character.
77
00:03:13.880 --> 00:03:16.520
Andraday is fantastic too. She
78
00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:19.240
channels this pent up energy, this simmering
79
00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:22.120
anger that feels so real. Their
80
00:03:22.120 --> 00:03:23.960
dynamic adds another layer to the film,
81
00:03:24.280 --> 00:03:26.520
showing a different kind of marital struggle.
82
00:03:27.160 --> 00:03:29.400
Jessica: It sounds like the movie is juggling a lot.
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00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:32.840
Two marriages, individual character arcs,
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comedy, drama. Does it all come
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together or does it feel a bit scattered?
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Chris: It takes a little while to find its footing.
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The beginning feels a bit awkward, both in
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terms of the story and how it's presented.
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But once it gains traction, it becomes a more
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conventional narrative. There's a rawness to
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it, especially in the way the characters
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express their frustrations and desires.
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Will Arnett is very authentic as Alex,
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stumbling his way through this new chapter of
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his life. And Laura Dern, as always, is
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phenomenal. She plays Tess with such depth
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and nuance, you can feel her disappointment,
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her longing, her resilience.
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Jessica: Laura Dern is incredible. She has this way
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of making you feel everything her character
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is going through.
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And it sounds like the supporting cast is
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strong too. Christine Ebersole and
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Ciaran Hynes play Alex's parents. Right?
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Chris: Yes, and they're great. Ebersole plays
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Marilyn, Alex's mother, who's not exactly
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warm or empathetic. She's a bit
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detached, almost cold. Heinz, on
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the other hand, plays Jan, Alex's father,
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who's much more in tune with his son. Their
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dynamic adds another layer to Alex's story,
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showing where some of his insecurities and
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struggles might come from.
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Jessica: It sounds like the movie touches on a lot of
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themes. Connection, identity,
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reinvention. Does it feel heavy handed
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or does it strike the right balance?
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Chris: It's a bit of both. There are moments where
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it leans into the Hollywood treatment. Things
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get a little too neat, a little too sweet.
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But overall it raises important questions
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about what it means to connect with someone
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and what happens when that connection fades.
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It's not perfect, but it's heartfelt and
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thought provoking.
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Jessica: And it's inspired by a true story. Right.
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Something about British comedian John Bishop.
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Chris: M. That's right. In 2000, Bishop
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was separated from his wife and decided to
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try an open mic night. He ended up using his
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personal experiences as material and it
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became a turning point for him. His wife even
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showed up at one of his shows without knowing
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he was performing, which is directly mirrored
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in the film. Bishop shared this story with
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Will Arnett, who co wrote the screenplay with
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Bradley Cooper and Marc Chappelle.
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Jessica: That's such a fascinating origin story. It
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makes the film feel more authentic knowing
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it's rooted in real life experiences.
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So, final thoughts? Would you recommend
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it?
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Chris: I would. It's not a flawless film, but
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it's worth watching for the performances and
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the themes it explores. It's rated um,
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M and I'd give it a solid 7.5 out of
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10.
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Jessica: Sounds like one to check out. I love movies
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that make you think about life and
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relationships, even if they're a little
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messy. Thanks for walking me through it.
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You've been listening to movies first
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available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
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iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
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player.
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Chris: You can also stream on demand@bytes.com
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this has been another quality podcast
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production from bytes.com.
