BADGE AND RUSH LINE ONLY*
BRADLEY COOPER | UNITED STATES | 2025 | 124 MIN | ENGLISH
Director/co-writer Bradley Cooper supposes that men would rather do stand-up comedy at an open mic night than go to couples therapy, and we are sitting front row for it in the maestro’s illuminating new feature. Once a thriving couple bursting with chemistry, the now inert — and newly separated — Tess (Laura Dern) and Alex (co-writer Will Arnett) find themselves throwing in the towel. Sure, they still hang on to their past life at dinner parties hosted by hip friends (Bradley Cooper, Andra Day) in rehabbed lofts, but the spark has died. When Alex finds himself wandering Greenwich Village stoned — as lonely, single men do — he happens to descend the fabled steps of the Comedy Cellar and enters a new world. He proves to be a natural with his new marital status providing a treasure trove of material when he steps up to the open mic. Through cheers and jeers, Alex must come to terms with his part in the divorce, lest he remain a one-man show forever. Cooper shrewdly avoids the trappings of typical divorce films and their melodramatic bouts of barbs in his latest work. Instead the filmmaker opts for a nuanced, more naturalistic approach in exploring the little moments and words that can have a monumental effect on any relationship. The excellent Dern and Arnett are supported by a superb ensemble, including Ciarán Hinds, Christine Ebersole, Sean Hayes, and Amy Sedaris. Rounding out the lineup is a who’s who of New York comedy, including Jordan Jensen, Chloe Radcliffe, and more. With A Star Is Born and Maestro, Bradley Cooper explored artists already in the stratosphere, but in Is This Thing On? Cooper casts the spotlight on the ones who survive with just a couple laughs and scattered applause.
Cast: Will Arnett, Laura Dern, Andra Day, Bradley Cooper
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BADGE AND RUSH LINE ONLY*
Limited additional tickets are expected to be available for purchase prior to the start of the screening. Seats in the theater are being reserved for badge holders. Any excess seats will be sold to the Rush Line five minutes before the screening, cash only and first come first served.