Overview

• Cooper directs and co-writes the dramedy starring Will Arnett and Laura Dern, with a story credit to comedian John Bishop.
• The film follows a recent split that nudges a finance professional into trying stand-up, drawing on New York’s club scene for authenticity.
• The world premiere screened as the festival’s closing-night selection at Alice Tully Hall, with attendees shown an unfinished print.
• Stand-up sequences were filmed in real clubs with real audiences, and Arnett says some trial sets intentionally bombed as the character learned.
• Critical response out of the premiere is split, with some calling the film a charmer centered on Arnett–Dern chemistry and others finding it uneven; Searchlight opens it in U.S. theaters December 19.