Is This Thing On? Yes It Is

 


Is This Thing On? follows Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern) as their marriage unravels. Alex starts doing stand-up comedy while Tess reflects on sacrifices she has made for her family and looks to get back to her roots as a volleyball coach. 

I was impressed by how Is This Thing On? is such a grounded and honest film. It feels like you're living the lives of the characters. There's great acting all around and I didn't know Will Arnett could be so skilled as an actor. Before this movie when I thought of Will Arnett I thought of only his comedic roles such as Arrested Development and The Lego Batman Movie. Is This Thing On? isn't about stand-up comedy as much as it is used as a form of catharsis.

I have a couple of gripes with Is This Thing On? starting with Peyton Manning. He's an actor in the film and isn't playing himself. It was very strange seeing Manning in the movie since while Is This Thing On? has a lot of humorous elements, it's more of a drama. Seeing Manning on Nationwide commercials or a sitcom is one thing, but why is he in this movie (even if it is a small role)? Some of the editing employed also feels a bit abrupt.

If you're looking for a film where you don't know how it's going to end then I would say you'll enjoy Is This Thing On? It's a movie that is so focused on its characters and the human experience. I'm confident you'll get a lot out of it.

Rating:

Green Light

This is a movie to watch in theaters

Is This Thing On? 121 minutes    R    In theaters




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