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Bradley Cooper’s ‘Is This Thing On?’ Begins Limited Release to Warm Early Reviews

Critics praise intimate performances, signaling Cooper’s embrace of a smaller, character-driven canvas.

Overview

  • Co-written by Will Arnett and Bradley Cooper and directed by Cooper, the film stars Arnett and Laura Dern as it opens in select theaters Dec. 19, with a Toronto limited engagement the same day and wider U.S. and Canadian expansion on Jan. 9.
  • Early reviews describe a mature, small-scale dramedy that centers on midlife reinvention and co-parenting, with particular acclaim for Arnett and Dern’s grounded work.
  • Arnett developed the role by performing in character at New York open-mic nights, while Cooper fostered improvisation on set and at times operated the camera.
  • Searchlight’s release carries an R rating from the Motion Picture Association for language throughout, sexual references and some drug use.
  • Coverage cites a real-life inspiration for the story, with most outlets naming British comedian John Bishop, while an Associated Press review names Joseph Bishop of Manchester, creating a noted discrepancy.