Cooper’s Is This Thing On? focuses on quiet breakups, Will Arnett says

In an exclusive interview with Movieweb, Will Arnett discussed Bradley Cooper's latest film Is This Thing On?, in which Arnett stars as Alex, a middle-aged man navigating a divorce who finds solace in the New York stand-up comedy scene.

Arnett said the film intentionally avoids a grandiose depiction of the breakup and instead concentrates on quieter moments of reflection: "That was something that was really important to us, because we didn't need to see that we could get to later and understand how they had gone to that place. But to start at that point was really, really important to us, so that you do feel, as you say, dropped into the middle of it... it's not always some big, crazy, dramatic breakup. Generally, it's sadder, because they usually are." Laura Dern, who plays Alex's wife Tess, also praised Peyton Manning's natural performance and said his presence enhanced themes of growth and change in the film.

The film debuted at the New York Film Festival in October last year and has since received a wide release, drawing positive reviews that praise the cast and Cooper's direction. The interview and coverage focus on the movie's tone and performances; further details such as awards or wider industry response are not addressed in the piece.

Key Topics

Culture, Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Peyton Manning, Stand-up Comedy