Plus: NFL QB’s five greatest on-screen moments

Casting announcements can be funny. Take the press release from April that announced the A-list cast of the (quite good) new Bradley Cooper-directed film, “Is This Thing On?” It’s a story inspired by real British comedian John Bishop‘s early career.

These press announcements tell you who’s appearing in a new movie, accompanied by a rundown of their fanciest screen credits. This one tells us that “Is This Thing On?” stars (ho hum): Will Arnett, whose acclaimed comedic roles include TV series such as “Arrested Development,” “BoJack Horseman” and “30 Rock.” And Laura Dern, winner of both Academy (“Marriage Story”) and Emmy (“Big Little Lies”) awards. There’s Amy Sedaris, the two-time Emmy-nominated star of iconic series like “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “The Mandalorian.” And of course Cooper, who not only starred in “Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Sniper” and “The Hangover” series, he directed and appeared in “A Star Is Born” and “Maestro.”

Then there’s … Peyton Manning. And here’s how the press announcement sold his screen cred:

“Manning hosted ‘The Manningcast’ on ESPN2. He has also guest-voiced an episode of ‘The Simpsons’ and the character of Guapo in ‘Ferdinand.’”

(I would have led with: “Maybe the best host in ‘Saturday Night Live’ history.”)

But here’s the thing: The Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl 50-winning quarterback makes more than just a quick cameo in “Is This Thing On?” He plays a brief but significant supporting role. And guess what? He’s pretty good. One critic calls Manning’s five-minute scene “one of the film’s funniest moments.” 

“Is This Thing On?” is fairly being called a hybrid “feel-good divorce comedy” that dances the line between safe and significant. It’s a wonderful individual showcase for Arnett, Dern and, yes, even Manning, who, oddly, does not appear in the movie’s official trailer or in any press photos.

The movie opens with Alex and Tess coming to a jarringly calm and harmonious agreement that their marriage is over. That launches Arnett’s Alex down a rather blind rabbit hole of self-discovery via an open mic he stumbles onto at a (remarkably friendly) New York comedy club.

Over the next few months, Alex mostly uses his time at the mic to explore his own culpability in the circumstances that brought him to this point.

This really is Arnett’s coming out as a leading actor for his vulnerable mix of decency and pathos. It’s generally almost impossible for Arnett to not be funny, which makes his inevitable moments of utter failure as a standup all the more impressive.

And Dern is just the best you could possibly hope for as the basically supportive ex-wife helping to navigate their new shared roles as separated co-parents.

How does Manning fit into all of this? In the most contrived way possible. Or, in The Hollywood Reporter’s estimation: In the most forgivably contrived way possible. You can see it coming a mile away that Tess is going to discover Alex’s secret life as a surprised audience bystander. You might not be able to guess that she will be out with Manning, whose character offers to squire her out a side door to minimize her humiliation.

The critic for In Review Online says: “The best joke in the film is Manning’s face when he learns that Tess is newly separated and getting a divorce.”

“Is This Thing On?” turns out to be a surprisingly poignant film that takes aim at your funny bone but will likely nick your heartstrings. Just as Adam Sandler and Jim Carrey transitioned to weightier fare, this film is a game-changer for Arnett.

So, too, for Manning. All in all, this is a win for Denver’s most beloved athlete, who with this performance will surely advance to the next round of his burgeoning acting career.

Manning: Five best screen moments

5. No way Manning’s cameo in the forgettable new Reese Witherspoon film “You’re Cordially Invited’ makes this list. Not until the end credits show Manning glumly fumbling through a karaoke version of “Islands in the Stream” with Witherspoon and other castmates incongruously dancing along.

4. In a 2007 “Saturday Night Live” sketch called “Locker Room Motivation,” Manning joins coach Will Forte for a rousing basketball halftime speech that turns into a joyfully silly dance party set to a James Bond theme. With the team down by 34 points, Manning, playing the team captain, says: “You guys, listen up, and listen good: Let’s get the eff outta here! … We can get back to the bus and get back to Des Moines before they even know we’re gone.” Instead, they danced. “It doesn’t have to make sense when Peyton and (Will) Forte’s dance moves are pure magic,” wrote NBC’s Christopher Rudolph.

3. Will Ferrell (as Ron Burgundy) “interviews” Manning for ESPN to promote “Anchorman 2,” peppering the MVP with absurd questions like why Manning doesn’t have a mustache.

2. “Is This Thing On?” The new film directed by Bradley Cooper will be released Dec. 19.

1. “Saturday Night Live’s” infamous 2007 United Way parody PSA shows Manning volunteering with a youth group, but he exhibits shockingly mean-spirited behavior with them. “Peyton Manning uses football to teach valuable lessons of communication,” the narrator says genially, just before Manning drills a young boy in the back of the head with a pass. “Get your head out of your (bleep!)” Manning yells at the kid. “You suck!” The Broncos later issued a statement saying, “Peyton Manning may have just been in the greatest SNL skit of all time” – and no one has yet to refute the claim.

John Moore is the Denver Gazette’s Senior Arts Journalist. Email him at john.moore@denvergazette.com.