After separating, Alex Novak (Will Arnett) tries something radically different, standup comedy, finding the experience therapeutic.

The filmmakers were inspired by the real-life story of British comedian John Bishop for this romantic dramedy that feels charming and down-to-earth as it explores the evolving relationship between Alex and Tess. Arnett and Laura Dern are very good as people in dire need of a few changes in life; the director himself gets laughs as Alex’s easily distracted buddy.

The standup scenes are cleverly filmed, making them come across as intimate acts of confession… even if the audiences are too nice.

2025-U.S. 124 min. Color. Directed by Bradley Cooper. Screenplay: Bradley Cooper, Will Arnett, Mark Chappell. Cast: Will Arnett (Alex Novak), Laura Dern (Tess Novak), Andra Day (Christine), Bradley Cooper (Balls), Amy Sedaris, Sean Hayes, Ciarán Hinds, Peyton Manning. 

Trivia: Co-produced by Cooper and Arnett. Emily Blunt was reportedly considered for Dern’s role.

Last word: “Sometimes you meet these people and they go out of your life, but we stayed in each other’s lives for decades and now he’s somebody who I consider one of my closest friends in my life, that I will take on my death bed and know for a fact that I’ll think back [on how] his friendship meant the world to me. To be able to make art together with someone you trust, and to see them show themselves. There’s so many moments in this movie that you’ll see […] is just him, baring his soul through the character of Alex.” (Cooper on Arnett, Deadline)