Interview: Talking Chemistry with ‘Is This Thing On?’ Stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern

When you watch Is This Thing On?, one thing you can’t help but notice is the chemistry between stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern. Working with co-writer/director (and co-star) Bradley Cooper, the pair play a believable longtime married couple. The highlight of the film is watching them deal with their particular situation, leading us to some unexpected places. So, having them together for a conversation made all the sense in the world. I’ve previously spoken to Dern a few times before (including most recently here), but today, she’s back, this time with Arnett, to discuss Cooper’s latest flick, which opens this weekend. The result was a nice little back and forth, one I’m pleased to share with you all now.

In my review of Is This Thing On? from back at the New York Film Festival (here), I said the following about Arnett and Dern:

Will Arnett and Laura Dern have a shorthand chemistry that fits as a longtime married couple. Arnett obviously has comedy chops, so while he’s not a trained stand up, he does make those sequences more effective than they otherwise would be. Dern gets to have agency and her character is just as right as Arnett’s, which not every film would do. Together, they’re a very interesting, if somewhat unconventional, screen pairing

Below, you can see my chat with Arnett and Dern. We didn’t have a lot of time to talk about the movie, though I do think we made it count. My focus was on the chemistry they share and how that is so well realized in the work. Arnett co-wrote the film with Cooper, so he’s an original architect, but the way they all work in concert with each other is a big reason why it actually works. Is This Thing On? hits theaters this weekend, so, once you give this discussion a look, be sure to check it out. You’ll undoubtedly be impressed with what Arnett and Dern are doing.

Here now is my interview with Is This Thing On? stars Will Arnett and Laura Dern. Enjoy:

Is This Thing On? begins its theatrical run this weekend!