SYNOPSIS: In “Is Thing On?” a new feelgood divorce drama now playing in theatres, Will Arnett plays a suburban dad who uses stand-up comedy as self-therapy during a difficult divorce.
CAST: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Cooper, Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole and Ciarán Hinds. Directed by Bradley Cooper.
REVIEW: A mix of drama, comedy and catharsis, “Is This Thing On?” is an intimate story of mid-life discovery and risk taking.
Loosely based on the true story of British comedian John Bishop, “Is Thing On?” wastes no time in jumping into its story. When we first meet longtime couple Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess Novak (Laura Dern) a sense of stagnation has settled on their marriage like a shroud. “We need to call it,” says Tess, “right?” Dissatisfied and struggling to find a sense of identity outside their marriage, they split. It’s amicable, but both are quietly devastated, as they co-parent their two young sons.
As former Olympic volleyball player Tess forges a new path forward in life, Alex finds an unexpected but therapeutic outlet, stand-up comedy. He’s never been on stage, but when the doorman at the Comedy Cellar in NYC tells him he doesn’t have to pay cover if he signs up to do a set, he gives it a shot. Mixing vulnerability and humor, the outlet stand up offers teaches him how to get in touch with his feelings and his relationship with Tess. “The whole experience,” he says, “to be honest, made me miss my wife.”
“Is Thing On?” director Bradley Cooper, who also plays Alex’s best friend, puts aside the formalism of his last movie “Maestro” in favor of a looser, more intimate style. His handheld camera provides an up close and personal look at the action.
For the actors that means there is nowhere to hide. The vérité style reveals the subtleties of the performances, particularly of the leads Arnett and Dern. As each character looks inward, searching for answers, the camera studies them. Later, as answers reveal themselves the camera pulls back, taking in a more fulsome view of the couple.
Arnett has never been better, riding the line between comedy and drama in a raw, vulnerable performance.
Dern, whose story blossoms in the film’s second half, takes full advantage of the film’s intimate nature. Her ability to portray nuance in the space between sadness and grace brings Tess to vivid life.
“Is This Thing On?” uses these natural, quiet performances as the backbone of an observational movie that weaves melancholy, humor and introspection into a thoughtful film of self-discovery.
Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to make the bed! Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the epic “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the feel-good divorce drama “Is This Thing On?” and the psychological thriller “The Housemaid.”
I’m not sure if the first rule of comedy is that it is always funny when someone falls down but it is the certainly the cornerstone of the career of the Three Stooges. For fifty years they fell down, got back up and, well, fell down again. This weekend they’re back–or at least a reasonable facsimile is–to try and uplift a new generation by falling down.
Directed by the Farrelly Brothers–the twisted minds behind “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber”–the new film is ninety minutes long, but made up of three short movies, the length of the classic Stooge’s shorts. Part One sees them growing up–and falling down–in an orphanage from childhood to age thirty-five. In Part Two they leave their home to try and raise $830,000 to save the orphanage from foreclosure and wind up involved in a murder plot. Part Three sees Moe joining the cast of Jersey Shore. Seriously.
Well, that’s not true. There’s nothing serious about this movie. It is as silly a film as will be released this year.
Fans of the original Stooges will know what to expect. Lots of hair pulling, face slapping and even three way eye pokes and even though the traditional Stooge pie fight is sadly missing, the slapstick is state of the art thanks to studied performances from Sean Hayes, Chris Diamantopoulos and Will Sasso as Larry, Moe and Curly.
For those unfamiliar with the Stooge oeuvre–a generation that associates poking with facebook and not slapstick–the old school jokes–like a lawyer’s firm called Kickum, Harter, Indagroyne–and the physical humor may seem too silly in the post Apatow world.
But the harmless humor has heart. The Farrellys stress the family connection between the Stooges and even though they whallop the heck out of one another they have genuine affection for each other. That detail makes a great deal of difference.
Remember “Borat”? Offensive and funny it succeeded because the main character’s journey was spurred on by his love of Pamela Anderson. Contrast that with “Bruno.” Same kind of humor but the heart was gone and it failed to connect with audiences.
“The Three Stooges” works because of its soft center and because there is a certain pleasure in watching Moe beat up the “Jersey Shore” kids.
There are some differences between new and old. I doubt the original Stooges would have used Sofía Vergara’s cleavage as a plot device and there’s loads of stunt casting–in addition to the “Jersey Shore” cast there’s the Old Spice Guy and Larry David as a nun named Sister Mary-Mengele–but the Farrellys and a talented cast have expertly reimagined the Stooges anarchy and their heart for a new generation.
