Words Robb Sheppard

Whoever laughs last, laughs the loudest. Unless you’re in the throes of a midlife crisis and reevaluating every life choice you’ve ever made. That’s exactly where we find Will Arnett’s Alex Novak: one foot on the comedy stage, the other in the divorce court. Life has a funny way of working out.

Inspired by the life of Liverpudlian laugh machine John Bishop, Is This Thing On? was born from a chance meeting between the beloved British comic and Hollywood heavyweight Bradley Cooper, who co-wrote the story with him. Cooper adds another string to his bow, continuing his streak of turning real-life stories into cinematic gold after A Star Is Born and Maestro.

Will Arnett, best known for his comedy chops in Arrested Development and the voice of LEGO Batman, steps into the spotlight as Alex, with Oscar-winner and living legend Laura Dern starring as his wife, Tess. Naturally, Cooper joins the onscreen action, too.

The result? A definitive comedy drama experience that’ll split your side one minute and leave you reaching for the tissues next. Just remember: in the cinema, they can hear you laugh, but they can’t see you cry.

Comedians On Camera

The King Of Comedy

Martin Scorsese’s pitch-black comedy follows Robert De Niro as a delusional stand-up hopeful who’ll do anything to prove he belongs in showbiz – when really, he has no business being there.

Man On The Moon

Andy Kaufman’s humour was as subjective as they come, but this brilliant biopic is almost universally adored. Jim Carrey delivers a career-defining, method-driven performance that gets under the skin of the madcap comic. Paired with behind-the-scenes doc Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, it’s essential viewing.

Joker

Before Batman, ostracised loner Arthur Fleck attempts to make his name on Gotham’s comedy circuit. What follows is a chilling descent into chaos, with an emaciated, Oscar-winning Joaquin Phoenix giving a very different take on the Clown Prince of Crime.