Is This Thing On?
Laura Dern, Will Arnett and Calvin Knegten in “Is This Thing On?” Jason McDonald/Searchlight Pictures photo via IMDb.com Laura Dern won an Oscar for playing the divorce attorney in “Marriage Story.” Now, in “Is This Thing On?” she's the one getting the divorce. Hmmm, did she miss something … ? Her character Tess Novak, a former volleyball champion, takes the breakup in stride. Between her young sons, the dogs, her homey home and a possible new career coaching, there's not much room for depression. Her husband Alex (Will Arnett) handles it a little differently. He accidentally wanders into a comedy club one open-mic night, and before you can say, “Is this thing on?” he's doing stand-up comedy about the divorce and the sorry state of his life in general. Unlikely as it may sound, this is all based on true events. At least that's what it says in the end titles, right after the director's credit for Bradley Cooper. Cooper also costars as the goofball husband of Andra Da...