Watch Brad's Status

Brad's Status is a 2017 indie movie that tells the story of Brad Sloan, a father in his early 50s, who takes his son Troy to visit colleges on the East Coast. Brad's Status stars Ben Stiller as the titular character along with Austin Abrams as his son Troy, Jenna Fischer as Brad's wife, and other talented actors in smaller roles. The movie follows Brad, whose life is not going as he had always dreamed it would. He lives with his wife and son in Sacramento, California, runs a non-profit organization, and spends most of his days feeling dissatisfied with his achievements. Brad, who is envious of his friends' success, decides to take his son Troy on a college tour of the East Coast to reflect on his own life choices.

As Brad and Troy visit various campuses, Brad reflects on the decisions that led him to this point in his life. He realizes that his friends from college, who he had always thought were mediocre, have achieved great success and their lives are more fulfilling than his.

The film features a series of flashbacks to Brad's college days, where he had once dreamed of being a writer and had idolized his own college professor, Craig Fisher, who had now become a best-selling author. Brad feels frustrated and sad that he was not able to achieve the goals he set out for himself. As his son Troy shows interest in music and attends an audition in Boston, Brad is torn between supporting his son's dreams or projecting his own insecurities onto him.

Throughout the movie, Brad's inner monologue is constantly going on, questioning his choices, successes, and values. The film portrays the upper-middle-class culture of success, privilege, and social pressures in a nuanced and introspective way.

Throughout the story, the audience can see Stiller give a moving performance as Brad. He brings depth and vulnerability to the character, which adds to the movie's overall message of looking beyond one's own insecurities to appreciate what is truly important in life. Austin Abrams also impresses in his role as Troy, where he gains insight into his father's worries and helps him see the positives in their lives.

Jenna Fischer delivers a heartfelt performance as Brad's wife who loves him regardless of his insecurities and encourages him to be happy. The film also features supporting performances from Michael Sheen, Luke Wilson, and Jermaine Clement.

Director Mike White has done an excellent job of creating a film that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The movie's pacing is intentional and slow in some parts, but it adds more depth to the story and the themes it explores. The production design of the film is excellent, with the impressive visuals of colleges, cities, and Brad's own home.

In conclusion, Brad's Status is a well-crafted and thought-provoking film that explores universal themes such as success, regrets, and chasing dreams. Ben Stiller delivers an excellent performance as a man struggling with his sense of self-worth in a society where achievement is everything. At its core, the film reminds us about the importance of appreciating our own life, regardless of whether it meets our dreams or not.

Brad's Status is a 2017 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 41 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 71.