Rating - 8.2:
Overall, the definition of what a comedy-drama should be as 'Is This Thing On?' is so raw and in-your-face with its cinematography as it amplifyies Will Arnett's performance, who uses stand-up comedy as a therapeutic outlet for his character's divorce; even though some of the storylines felt useless, this is a redemptive effort for Bradley Cooper, as he does a full 180 from Maestro by being more hands-off and letting the actors and the script play.
Direction - Good:
The direction on a macroscale feels very raw and personal as it accurately portrays the hustle of the New York Comedy Scene through the lens of a raw and in your face camera; The direction on a microscale is good as the movie feels therapeutic with the protagonist venting about his struggles through comedy, basically live action Bojack Horseman; The interpersonal scenes between Arnet and Dern felt real as it accurately captured their dynamic; Though the group setting scenes were kind of unnecessary and brought the movie down; This movie feels like a complete 180 from Maestro as it is stripped down to let the actors and the script do most of the work; Storytelling feels so raw and real as you are so close to this protagonist and his struggles, literally from a camera perspective, as you see he uses this newfound love of comedy as a therapeutic outlet to get through his divorce; Tension is built as it uses your emotional investment in the protagonist to make you feel for him as he goes through his struggles, and cringe when he bombs on stage
Story - Good:
The concept is very interesting, as it is about a father finding a newfound love of comedy as an outlet to get through his divorce, which is amazing considering this is based on a true story; the plot structure is good for the A and B plot, but the C plot just felt very unnecessary and clouded this movie's story; character writing is very good, as it paints this protagonist as a character we can empathize with, as he finds his new wind in comedy he uses as a therapeutic outlet to get through his divorce, though Laura Dern's character felt a little flat
Screenplay - Good to Very Good:
The dialogue is profound and funny, as this movie is what a comedy drama should be; The humor is really good, as it interjects stand-up comedy throughout the movie to make it feel topical and as if you're in the comedy cellar watching the main character; The symbolism is strong, as the movie does touch on therapeutic outlets and the concept of going through a divorce and trying to coparent; The foreshadowing feels a little weak and stretched out, but this is what happened in real life, so I will allow it
Acting - Pretty Good to Good:
Will Arnett - Very Good (Basically, plays a live-action Bojack; Really brings to life this character as you can empathize with his struggles as you are interested in seeing his standup career come to life as a therapeutic outlet for his divorce; Has good chemistry with Dern and pretty good chemistry with the cast), Laura Dern - Good (Plays her role well and has pretty good chemistry with Arnett to show one side of the dynamic of this divorce; Her solo scenes and storylines are not that amazing in comparison to Arnett's story, but she does show her own grieving process for this marriage coming to an end; With her Oscar win as a divorce attorney in 'Marriage Story', it seems like she is very familiar with the topic to play with it), Andra Day - Decent to Pretty Good (Plays her role well, but her material is not the best as her scenes are not really that well written and are not that interesting), Bradley Cooper - Pretty Bad (Sadly, the worst performance in this movie was his, as he was relegated to this slapstick physical comedy character that doesn't use any of his strengths; it's good he is barely in this movie because his scenes are honestly some of the worst in the movie), Rest of the cast - Decent to Pretty Good (Everyone in the cast plays their role well and helps bring to life the underbelly and hustle of the New York comedy scene; The chemistry in this cast is fine, but scenes are really better in the one-on-one interpersonal scenes; The jumpscare cameo also does a pretty good job given his background, you will be shocked when you see who it is)
Score - Good:
Does a good job at establishing the theme and tone of the movie as it feels like an extension of the raw and fast-paced culture you would see in the New York comedy scene
Soundtrack - Pretty Good:
Uses Under Pressure well to make this movie feel wholesome
Cinematography - Great:
The best part of the movie was that it was so raw and in your face in order to help amplify the emotions the characters were going through, as if you are with them experiencing these events in real time, which is also helped considering everything is done in handi-cam
Editing - Very Good:
Felt raw and seamless at the same time as it is very clear this movie was stitched by a professional; does an amazing job in conjunction with the cinematography to make you feel like you are right there with the characters with how in your face it is
Sound - Pretty Good to Good:
makes New York and the comedy scene feel like a character in this movie
Production Design - Good:
New York is a character in this movie, as shooting in real locations helps personify the hustle of the New York Comedy scene, especially in places like the Comedy Cellar
Pacing - Pacing is fast-paced in the comedy moments to show the hustle of the New York comedy scene, but a little slower and drier in the group setting scenes
Climax - Climax is executed well as it captures what happens in real life, and ties a bow on the story; Could have been better but this is what happened so I'll let it slide
Tone - Tone captured the raw grittiness of the New York comedy scene, as it is so up close and personal to get the feelings of this main character, who uses his material as a therapeutic outlet to get past his divorce; This movie is what a comedy drama should be; This movie feels like a live-action remake of Bojack Horseman
Final Notes - "Saw premiered at Austin Film Festival"
