Will Arnett defined Hollywood ennui for years as a crumudgeonly horse/TV has-been of the hit Netflix animated series BoJack Horseman. Now, the Arrested Development star is becoming the face of New York City anxiety as a stand-up comedian, who is making sense of his impending divorce one joke at a time in Is This Thing On?
Bradley Cooper directs a script penned by himself, Arnett, and Mark Chappell. Arnett headlines this seeming dramedy as Alex, a middle-aged man who turns to stand-up while his wife Tess (Laura Dern) urges him to understand how their relationship went awry, so they can find a way to co-parent and move forward.
From the trailer, we get a sense of Alex’s desperation and how a desire to understand his circumstances — and perhaps self-flagellate — pitches him into New York’s merciless comedy scene. Tough times when even your parents aren’t on board with your schtick.
Cooper not only co-writes and helms Is This Thing On?, but is also set to appear in the film, alongside Andra Day, Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Christine Ebersole, Ciarán Hinds, and Scott Icenogle.
Following his remake of A Star is Born and his self-starring biopic of Leonard Bernstein Maestro, Is This Thing On? is Cooper’s latest directorial effort focusing on the intersection of act and personal sacrifice. Will it be as critically heralded as his previous efforts? We’ll find out this fall.
Is This Thing On? will make its world premiere at the New York Film Festival on its closing night, Oct. 10. Searchlight Pictures will release the film in select theaters on Dec.19. Look for Mashable’s coverage out of NYFF this fall.
