Good Morning Lovelies, 

For years in the UK, John Bishop has been lighting up our screens with his natural ability to make us all laugh. Often telling stories of his family and the life they lead, he is a character that needs no introduction when he walks into a room. Something that director Bradley Cooper manages to capture perfectly in new film, Is This Thing On?, based on the comedian's life. 

Taking elements from Bishop’s rise to comedy stardom, the feature begins as Alex (Arnett), the character that is meant to be bishop, finds himself struggling to keep his marriage to Tess (Dern) going. As the pair drift apart, Alex decides to give an open mic night a go, after he struggles to pay the bill from his night out. What follows is a beautifully stripped back story that provides an arthouse vibe to Cooper’s directorial catalogue. 

Dern and Arnett are a fantastic pairing too. Providing a real natural feel to the story, they capture the sad reality of a marriage breaking down, whilst also the reconnection between the two, in a way that makes it feel like it is their partnership you are watching. Arnett is a perfect choice to play Bishop, as he knows how to make an audience feel something whilst also capturing the voice that comedians need fantastically. 

Cooper hasn’t gone all out and tried to make the film and story a big affair. Something that makes it a fantastic feature, as this isn’t a feature that needs it. It needs the characters and actors to be as raw and real as possible. It needs Bishop’s honesty to be shown and not made into something that it is not. As a director, he has done everything right in every possible way. 

Including making a real effort to give Dern her own storyline to show that she is not a submissive character. She is a woman who is a real force and her character adds a delightful power throughout. A power that makes Alex’s rise to the top even more enjoyable to watch. 

Overall, the film is a sad but happy affair that allows for Bishop’s story to be shared to audiences who know and who don’t know him in a lovely way. Everyone involved knows exactly what to do to make everyone who watches it fall for it completely. It truly is a film that presents the ultimate comedic mic drop!

4 Stars

Joey X