Is This Thing On? (2026) Parent Guide

Out of cash but wanting a drink, Alex Novak (Will Arnett) impulsively signs up for an open mic slot at a comedy club. As he starts riffing about the collapse of his marriage, Alex learns two things: first, he can make people laugh, and second, the terror and exhilaration of cracking jokes on stage makes him feel better.

While Alex juggles his new hobby with his parental responsibilities, Tess Novak (Laura Dern) is seeking new directions in her own life. She’s devoted to their two sons, but wants more, and in her case, that’s a return to the world of competitive volleyball as a coach. 

For both Tess and Alex, the post-separation phase is a time to spread their wings and experience the challenges of personal growth. There’s just one catch: they can’t seem to get over each other.

Is This Thing On? is an intriguing addition to the world of romance dramedies. The film is heartfelt, often funny, and apparently based on a true story. It honestly depicts the anguish of marital breakdown, while also giving viewers a couple who manage to remain civil, honest, compassionate, and focused on their children. With solid performances by Will Arnett and Laura Dern, this is a convincing story of love, heartbreak, and finding new paths. Despite all the hurt, it’s a fundamentally hopeful tale.

Sadly, the production’s many positive aspects are often overwhelmed by a tide of negative content, primarily the 100-plus profanities, including 77 sexual expletives. (This is certainly an undercount: in some scenes the cuss words fly so fast they are hard to count.) The movie also features several scenes of main characters drinking and smoking, as well as eating marijuana-laced cookies. A secondary character, nicknamed “Balls” (Bradley Cooper), is constantly stoned and confused, and is seen smoking a joint. Sexual content is mercifully not explicit, although there are frequent conversations about sex and scenes of implied marital and adulterous intercourse. 

I was optimistic heading into this film, but was ultimately disappointed. The movie provides plenty of authentic emotion and an honest look at the challenges inherent in relationships – and it’s even funny. (Although I laughed less than my fellow moviegoers.) However, as a family movie critic, it’s impossible to overlook the sheer volume of negative content served up on the screen. It’s just another case of wishing a funny movie would clean up its act.