"Is This Thing On" is a 'midlife catharsis' movie, says Cooper.
NEW YORK — Will Arnett is much funnier in real life.
Take it from Bradley Cooper, who directs the comedian in the sentimental new dramedy “Is This Thing On?” (in theaters Dec. 19). The film follows a finance guy named Alex (Arnett), who after splitting from his wife Tess (Laura Dern), stumbles into an unlikely hobby as a standup comic. It becomes a therapeutic exercise as Alex hops between Greenwich Village comedy clubs, venting about marriage, sex and family, but often struggling to land a punchline.
“It was quite an acting feat,” said Cooper, speaking to reporters after the movie’s first-ever screening at the New York Film Festival Oct. 10. “For him to play this character is so amusing. He’s still funny, but he’s not Will Arnett funny. It was a real testament that he was able to dive in and do that.”