BRAD'S STATUS

BEN DISAPPOINTS

Film review by Fiore

Ben Stiller’s career is based on stereotypic, mono-dimensional characters; generally, neurotic, white-guilt laden wimpy men. Of all the incantations of this character Stiller gave to theatre audiences, the one in BRAD’S STATUS is by far the worst.

Stiller can be funny, when he tries.  The director’s cut of TROPIC THUNDER is still one of the funnier films of the decade; yet there is nothing remotely humorous about BRAD’S STATUS.  The film is slow, plodding through a series of liberal guilts for white privilege that, thankfully, died when Donald Trump was elected President. As a cultural parody, the movie fails.  As a comedy, it is a disaster.

STORY AND STARS:

Brad Sloan (Ben Stiller) is traveling on a weekend college visitation trip to Boston, with his son Troy, played by Austin Abrams.  There is a possibility Troy may make Harvard, and naturally, Brad is excited about the prospect.

Previous to the trip, there are several scenes establishing Brad’s feeling of loss and failure, compared to his friends from college, who all seem to be living la vida loca.  This include Jason Hatfield, played by Luke Wilson; Craig fisher, played by Michael Sheen; Billy Wearslter, played by Jermaine Clement.  Wilson and Wearslter basically have cameo appearances.  Sheen’s is an extended cameo, and in his relative short screen time, manages to provide the best performance with his restaurant sequence.

The weekend trip not only provides Brad and Troy with a chance to explore their relationship, but also gives Brad the opportunity to reconnect with his old college mates.  Everything is simply awkward and the only worthwhile scenario is the aforementioned restaurant dinner between Brad and Craig.

BEHIND THE CAMERA:

Usually, films of this ilk will have a retro or modern soundtrack to help the tale along.  That is not the case with BRAD’S STATUS.  There is nothing of note in cinematography, lighting, nor set design to make note.  Everyone behind the camera is putting in yeoman’s duty for the production.  Stiller’s purpose, and those of Writer/Director Mike White, I’m sure was to emphasize the characters; tragically, none of them are interesting.

REPORT CARD:

ACTING = C

CINEMATOGRAPHY = C

SOUND/MUSIC = C

EDITING = C

LIGHTING = C

SCRIPT = F

SFX = F

ACTION = F

 

SUMMARY: 

Watch this film at your own risk.  There is nothing here of value, unless you are a white male who thinks he is responsible for everything wrong in the universe.  Had this been a preview, rather than a press screening, I would have walked out of BRAD’S STATUS after enduring a painful thirty minutes.

REWATCHABLE INDEX:  NONE