Is This Thing On? – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Is This Thing On? – Mid-Life on the Mic: It’s a Marriage Thing

A new year is upon us, with eyes set on the possibilities of the unknown.  From all that may come for us, it is in that wonderous feeling that makes you yearn for, what comes next.  That make-or-break moment defines a person’s journey, one that is fitting for any kind of character tale, especially in film.  In this review, I look at the newest dramedy to hit the big screen.  From the hearts of the grounded kind, we move through the eyes of crisis, relationships and growth.  Even if it is a simple tale,  Is This Thing On is an interesting complexion of what it means to be … together and alive. 

When a man’s marriage starts to unravel, he decides to face it in the most comedic of ways.  Stories are built through many different forms.  From action to suspense, the riveting sensations are built through many different visions.  No matter what the trigger points are, it is those moments in time that define the experience.  For this film, it initially pulls you in through simplistic methods, but slowly elevates to a unique stature of personal meaning.  Through the drop-in method, we meet Alex Novak (Will Arnett).  He is a man stuck in a typical mid-life crisis, struggling as his marriage to Tess Novak (Laura Dern) has hit a crossroads.  Through genuine conversational moments and convenient mishaps, Alex ends up on the open mic of a New York comedy club.  From this plot point, we head down a path of self-discovery that slowly evolves into something more.  Each time Alex is on the open mic, it chips away at his personal façade, becoming an outlet to his struggling marriage.  Confronting this through stand-up becomes the catalyst for everything that happens in the film.  From his daily interactions with his sons, Tess and others (you can view the actors/actresses list on the film’s IMdb page – link), you see the rawness of human worth come to the forefront.  This reflection of realistic motifs becomes a counterbalance for the characters, creating a place where purpose counters whimsy and conflict counters joy.  Watching Alex and Tess work through their issues becomes a tantalizing affair of wants and needs, building an odd sense of poignancy.  That strong chemistry is a bashful reflection of irony, helping lead through a genuine sense of connections, conversations and the heartiness of a struggling relationship.    

As things move through their highs and lows, moments are heightened by an unpredictability that levels each moment through its own unique define.  From kids birthdays, friends-only getaways and ‘face the music’ like moments , it all becomes a mirror of life’s choices.  As the stand-up starts to inch closer to the personal, we head into a third act of cause and effect.  Even when clichés start to pop up, we head into a wholesome climax and epilogue.  Is This Thing On is a strong dramedy with strong characters and meaningful themes.  If you like character driven tales, this is one for you.  For everyone else, I think this is worth seeing on the big screen.

Full Score – 4 out of 5 (Full Price)