BRAD’S STATUS – Rated R – 1 hr. 41 mins.
Starring Ben Stiller, Austin Abrams, Jenna Fisher, Michael Sheen, and Luke Wilson
As we enter into the self-revealing, mundane life of Brad Sloan (Ben Stiller), it seems that facing life head-on, in comparison to the glamorous lives of his college roommates, has become just too much to take…
While all this self-reflection is muddling up his head, Brad and his son Troy (Austin Abrams), venture back East to check out not only Brad’s alma mater, but Troy’s other options too…as Troy has decided to leave his Southern California existence and plant himself on the other side of the US…
This guy’s trip turns into a male-bonding nightmare – as Brad wrestles with his own inadequacies, and Troy searches to find “his own path” into adulthood, and into this wonderful thing we call LIFE…
When Brad must turn to college buddy Craig Fisher (Michael Sheen), to help his son get the admissions meeting at Harvard, that he inadvertently missed, Brad must finally face the realization, that the fantastic lives he has perceived for all his college buds, might just be in his head…
I give BRAD’S STATUS a rating between MUST SEE ON THE BIG SCREEN! Stiller is truly at his finest in this mid-life crisis vs. perfect father character. Abrams is perfect too, as Stiller’s artistically driven son – as the chemistry between them is totally palatable on screen. Throw in the better-than-average performances by Sheen, Wilson and Fisher, and you have a real-life drama that tugs at you emotionally the whole way through. And if you are on the University search path with your own child – as I am presently with my 17 year old daughter – then BRAD’S STATUS is a definite MUST SEE for you…as it brings home the many attributes that this simple, but profound experience in life, for both the parents, and the child, seems to be. Writer an Director Mike White has himself a beautiful little gem here…filled with a taste of real-life drama that you don’t want to miss, as I loved each and every minute of this truly entertaining film 😉
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 