A test screening was held last night in Boston for Bradley Cooper’s latest directorial effort, “Is This Thing On?,” marking his third film behind the camera after “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro.”
Initial reactions suggest a more conventional, lower-stakes dramedy than his previous two features, with a tone and structure some compared to “The Big Sick,” but with a few caveats.
The film, which is loosely based on the life of English comedian John Bishop, stars Will Arnett as a recently separated finance guy who stumbles into stand-up comedy and unexpectedly discovers a knack for it. Laura Dern plays his estranged wife, who ends up seeing his act by chance, sparking a renewed—if complicated—romantic and sexual connection. The rest of the film explores whether the couple will reconcile, balancing light comedy with more emotionally grounded moments.
One attendee who reached out to me was notably underwhelmed by the experience, though they noted that audience scores seemed generally positive. “I may be in the minority,” they said, “but I didn’t think it was very good.”
The viewer noted that the central conflict—the reason for the couple’s separation—is vague and underdeveloped, with Dern’s grievances against Arnett’s character surfacing suddenly in the third act. “They have a very sweet, funny dynamic together,” the attendee added. “Her issues with him come out of nowhere.”
Narratively, the film reportedly introduces key elements, such as Arnett’s comedic talent or Dern’s unfulfilled athletic dreams, too late for them to resonate. Stylistically, the film is said to be a step down from Cooper’s previous work. “It looked a bit flat,” the attendee remarked, emphasizing a visual and tonal shift away from the polish of “A Star Is Born” or “Maestro.”
Cooper himself appears in a supporting role as Arnett’s brother, a struggling actor, and apparently steals most of his scenes. “He definitely got the laughs at my screening,” the source said, suggesting that Cooper’s performance may be the film’s highlights.
As for a fall festival bow, I’d be surprised, honestly. It was emphasized thst it’s still a “work in progress”—lots of scoring, sound design, and color correction still to be done. Feels like a spring or summer 2026 release at this point.
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.