FILM REVIEW: IS THIS THING ON? (15) ESP RATING: 4/5

A stripped-back, vulnerable performance that shows a new side of Will Arnett.

Some films pull you in with spectacle, while others quietly draw you closer without you quite realising how deeply invested you’ve become.

Is This Thing On? very much falls into the latter category. I was absolutely captivated from start to finish – but despite my positive score, this is still a film I’d encourage people to approach with the right expectations.

Loosely inspired by the real-life experiences of British comedian John Bishop, the film centres on a man navigating the emotional fallout of a painful divorce.

Played with surprising restraint by Will Arnett – probably best known for character voicing in films such as The Lego Movie and Despicable Me – our protagonist finds himself drifting into a bar one evening, emotionally exhausted and unsure of what comes next.

He puts his name down for open mic comedy. Not out of ambition or confidence, but simply because he doesn’t want to pay the $15 entry fee required if you’re not performing.

That throwaway decision becomes quietly life-changing. Stepping on stage, he soon realises how unexpectedly therapeutic comedy can be. What begins as a practical choice slowly evolves into a creative outlet – and eventually, a lifeline. Stand-up becomes a way for him to process pain, confusion, and regret.

Crucially, this is a life he mostly keeps hidden. His comedy is something he does away from friends and family. The film gently explores this double existence, building towards moments of emotional exposure – including one involving his ex-wife, played brilliantly by Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), stumbling across his set entirely by accident. I won’t say anything more than that, but it’s a sequence that perfectly captures the fragile emotional core of the film.

This is not two hours of the cheeky, quick-fire Bishop we’re used to seeing on comedy panels. Nor is it the kind of humour many might expect from an Arnett-led project. Anyone heading in anticipating gag-after-gag comedy is likely to be surprised. Instead, this is deeply character-driven, often choosing introspection over punchlines.

Behind the camera, Hollywood A-lister Bradley Cooper – helming his third film after A Star is Born and Maestro – does an impressive job directing. The handheld camera work, in particular, elevates the sense of instability in the lead character’s life. There’s a rawness to the filmmaking that mirrors the chaos unfolding on screen, making the whole thing feel uncomfortably intimate – in the best possible way.

Stylistically, the film occasionally brought two very different movies to mind. When Is This Thing On? is at its quietest, allowing scenes to breathe and emotions to simmer, echoing Lost in Translation at its most contemplative. Then, when things grow more chaotic and the camera follows our protagonist through his unravelling world, it leans closer to Birdman in both movement and intensity. Despite those comparisons, this never feels derivative – it very much exists as its own thing.

As a big Will Arnett fan, it was genuinely refreshing to see this side of him. I’ve never doubted his dramatic abilities, but it’s great to see him fully lean into them here, and perhaps prove to a new audience just how much range he has beyond comedy.

This definitely won’t be for everyone – and that’s perfectly fine.

But for those willing to meet it on its own terms, it offers something thoughtful, uncomfortable, and quietly affecting.

ESP Rating: 4/5

Mike Clarke

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Ciaran Hinds & Bradley Cooper

Running Time: 2 Hrs 1 Min

Director: Bradley Cooper

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe Cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk