Will Arnett plays a man whose marriage is falling apart, so he starts to perform in New York’s stand-up comedy scene. The plot’s potential sounds better than the result. First off, even though the Comedy Cellar’s audience is laughing, his routines are not funny. Meanwhile, his encounters with his estranged wife (Laura Dern) become more and more tedious as they dissect their relationship’s failure. Surprisingly, Arnett is known for his comedy chops, but here he’s going against type for a dramatic portrayal. Dern brings radiance to her role and their family moments are the only bright spots, including the winning performances from their sons (Blake Kane & Calvin Knegten). Bradley Cooper directed (and has a supporting role), but his determination to make this a warm relationship drama undermines any potential for amusement, while dragging down the potential with dull dialogue. There’s promise here, but it doesn’t completely succeed in the comedy or drama aspects.
Interesting trivia: Sean Hayes has a small part and his real-life husband Scott Icenogle (a composer on “Will and Grace”) plays his partner in the film. 
(2 / 5)
