Trading out the Oscar-bait stylings of “Maestro” with a down-to-earth, heartfelt story, “Is This Thing On?” is Bradley Cooper’s most personal film yet, and quite possibly his best directorial work to date.

Trudging through the disasters of a failing marriage and a lack of future prospects, middle-aged New Yorker, Alex Novak (Will Arnett), finds himself adventuring through the Big Apple’s late night underbelly, striking a comedic cord with the city’s comedy scene, all while rediscovering what it means to be happy with the ones who know you best.

Although Cooper has made a break as a director in recent years with the 2018 hit “A Star is Born” as well as the aforementioned “Maestro,” it’s in “Is This Thing On?” that the 51-year-old has finally cracked the code behind the camera. 

The romance dramedy is Cooper’s first film that isn’t a remake or biopic, allowing his style of direction to finally flourish in this indie darling. 

The bustling laughter and colorful lights of New York’s comedy clubs help the scenes feel alive, and Cooper’s knack for poignantly-orchestrated, close-up cinematography allows Novak’s journey to feel all the more personal to the audience. 

You don’t feel like one of the clubs’ audience members, you feel like the voice that speaks in the back of Novak’s mind, as his brain struggles to comprehend why his two decade long marriage with Tess (Laura Dern) has seemingly hit a roadblock.

Not only does “Is This Thing On?” join the pantheon of great middle-aged romance films — a rather underrated genre for mainstream theater goers — but it also features two fantastic performances, with Arnett’s being a career-defining turn. The film feels like Cooper’s spin on “Marriage Story,” but manages to feel wholly unique with Arnett’s signature snarky humor. The comedy actor perfectly blends the movie’s self-deprecating humor with doses of inner-sadness, making it hard to tell when Novak is delivering a hilarious joke, or coming to terms with the outcome of his actions. Although Dern could have been given more to work plot wise, she stands out in several scenes, with her subplot involving volleyball serving up one of the film’s most heartbreaking moments.

While it’s nice to see “Is This Thing On?” feature a bit more positivity compared to Cooper’s earlier films, it struggles to manage the sincerity with the film’s realistic portrayal, causing some scenes to fall into melodrama. Just like “A Star is Born” and “Maestro,” the new movie isn’t able to find a comfortable face, with the third act feeling sluggish throughout. 

Whether it’s prolonged, rather uneventful conversations, or subplots that don’t feel crucial to the story, the film has no reason to be over two hours long. 

However, it does lead to a final scene that manages to be a standout among other 2025 releases, featuring a stand out needle drop as well.

While Cooper’s latest effort could have used a few more rewrites and edits, the Arnett/Dern led film proves that the actor-turned-director has far more to offer to viewers than just Oscar-bait and musical remakes, creating a wonderful experience with a dash of humor, heartbreak and a longing to hold those we love closer.

Although it has finished its theatrical run, “Is This Thing On?” will hit Disney+, Hulu and be available to rent sometime this year.