Who would have believed in 2001 that the likeable pretty boy in the role of Will Tippin in “Alias - The Agent” would one day become a successful director? In fact, Bradley Cooper has had an amazing career over the past 25 years – from a solid TV mime to the comedy mega-hit “The Hangover” to a filmmaker whose first two directorial efforts alone have already earned 15 (!) Oscar nominations. Nevertheless, the “American Sniper” star is anything but undisputed as the man behind the camera: his manic, perfectionist devotion to portraits of equally obsessed geniuses, including self-destructive neuroses, is particularly offending to some. While some praise films like “A Star Is Born” or “Maestro” as feats of acting, others see them as little more than mediocre Oscar bait without any particular depth.
Anyone who belongs to the second group will probably see this view confirmed by Cooper’s third directorial work – even though it didn’t even get any Oscar nominations this time: “Is This Thing On?” It avoids the big melodrama and instead tells the story of the relationship crisis of a New York couple with quiet melancholy, bittersweet comedy and an ever-shaky handheld camera. But unfortunately (here too) it doesn’t really have much new to say about its characters, their environment or their lives, which would set it apart from similar films.
Alex (Will Arnett) deals with his divorce on the stand-up stage…
Alex (Will Arnett) stands next to him. And there’s a reason for that: After two decades of marriage, his wife Tess (Laura Dern) can no longer stand him and wants a divorce. He has already moved out and is now holed up in a bachelor apartment, while Tess stays in the suburbs with their two sons. However, her best friends, the couple Arnie (Bradley Cooper) and Christine (Andra Day), don’t know anything about the separation yet.
But it’s really time to teach them, but also Alex’s ever-critical parents Jan (Ciaran Hinds) and Marilyn (Christine Ebersole). In this emotional chaos, Alex stumbles aimlessly into a comedy bar, where he wants to save himself the entrance fee by going on stage himself. There he begins to talk about his current experiences. To his own surprise, he finally finds something like recognition again…
Quieter sounds for a change
“Is This Thing On?” initially positions itself as a quiet contrast to the loud, big actor films “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro”, which were characterized by (out)sized emotions and passionate music (Cooper is now a three-time Grammy award winner). The film initially unobtrusively and cautiously portrays Alex and Tess as unhappy people trying to break out of their stagnant relationship. Laura Dern (“Marriage Story”) and Will Arnett (“Arrested Development”) can express their frustration and anger with just a few looks and gestures, while Bradley Cooper is content this time with the supporting role of an eccentric stage actor. While the rest of the well-known cast are not remembered, it is Arnett in particular who proves himself in an unusual leading role. But unfortunately the script, which he wrote together with Bradley Cooper and Mark Chappell, keeps letting him down.
Certainly the reactions of the odd friends, quirky parents and age-wise children to the separation of Alex and Tess are quite amusing here and there. Alex’s appearances on the comedy stage and the milieu of the stand-up comedians also seem credible. But it becomes clear all too quickly where the plot will develop – and so the film, which is far too long anyway, bumbles along without any surprises or highlights. The film’s message is sympathetic: love yourself before you can love others – and find something that fulfills you, be it art or sport. Alex finds an outlet and recognition on the stand-up stage, while Tess returns to her old sport of volleyball and thrives without the burden of a relationship. But all of this remains superficial and clichéd.
… much to the horror of his estranged wife Tess (Laura Dern).
With the exception of a few associative editing sequences, the rather reserved staging by Bradley Cooper and the unspectacular image work by Cooper’s regular cameraman Matthew Libatique are sometimes too dark and strenuous. There are also some cumbersome metaphors (keyword: Chinese lion). The film lacks a real punchline, even in the stand-up performances. Although the stage performances open up Alex’s perspective on his own (messed up) life, they neither achieve an intensity nor a level of comedy that would make it understandable why he is so well received. This restraint also carries over into the dramaturgy: conflicts are hinted at but rarely brought to a head. You never get the feeling that there’s anything really at stake here, neither for the marriage nor for the characters’ personal ambitions.
Conclusion: “Is This Thing On?” Despite a strong cast and a lot of care in portraying the stand-up milieu, it is unfortunately superficial in its analysis of modern relationships. Despite the many quirky New Yorkers, this seems like a Woody Allen film, only with less bite, less humor and less psychological depth.