Is This Thing On? Questioning Divorce with Will Arnett and Laura Dern

Is This Thing On? The Plot of the Movie

Is This Thing On? is an upcoming comedy and drama movie. After many years together, Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern) have reached the end of their marriage. They begin the phase of separated life, raising two children and maintaining their friendships. Alex discovers a new hobby and, in the process, learns more about himself and his relationship.

“Tonight I’ll do a bit of movement. So let’s give a round of applause for Alex Novak,” says a comedian during a stand-up comedy show. “I’m about to get divorced,” Alex says on stage, “what made me realize it is that I live alone in an apartment, and my wife and children don’t live there.”

“I was happy in our marriage. I wasn’t unhappy in our marriage,” Alex tells Tess.

Is This Thing On? The Cast of the Movie

Will Arnett recently acted in Who Scores Wins, The Morning Show, and is among the protagonists of the TV series Arrested Development. Laura Dern has worked on Little Women and Jurassic World Dominion; for her interpretation of divorce attorney Nora Fanshaw in Marriage Story (2019), she won the Academy Award.

Also present are Sean Hayes, protagonist of Will & Grace episodes and Curb Your Enthusiasm; Bradley Cooper, who is also directing, after having directed Maestro. The screenplay is by Arnett, Cooper, and Mark Chappell.

Is This Thing On? The Filming and Release Date of the Movie

The production is by Lea Pictures, with distribution by Searchlight Pictures. Filming began in January 2025 in New York City and concluded in April 2025. The movie releases in U.S. theaters on December 19, 2025.

Is This Thing On? Critical Reviews

The movie was presented at the New York Film Festival 2025, where it received positive reviews. For The Guardian, “like in a great routine, beneath the jokes lies something tender, concrete, and real.”

For New York Magazine, “we have already seen Arnett play different variations of his character, sarcastic and self-deprecating. Dern is the revelation, a woman who doesn’t really know what she wants and realizes it in real time, in a way that is a joy to watch.”

For IndieWire, “although often lethargic and apathetic, Is This Thing On? offers a vivid portrait of New York City’s underground comedy environment, even when New York City, as a character, seems more like an afterthought.”