Brad's Status tells the story of a middle-aged man going through a mid-life crisis of sorts, after constantly comparing himself with his apparently happier, wealthier and more successful college friends.
Ben Stiller makes us hate this petty, jealous little guy as he reveals his most inner thoughts to us - and the a**hole he truly is. What an ugly, ugly character. And yet, we can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the guy... and some sympathy. All of his frustrations, all that inner pain, the inability to appreciate what he has, nor to understand why he just can't be happy... Stiller delivers this wonderfully. And we've all felt like that at some point in our lives, I guess.
Austin Abrams plays the son of this poor man, a much more balanced and mentally healthy person, who has to deal with his dad's selfishness and self-centeredness without loosing it on a crucial part of his life. His performance is also excellent, his natural calm delivers a great contrast to Stiller's constant "on-edge" state. Their interactions were all so... real, and heart warming.
This movie is a great opportunity to look at your own life achievements and confront the way you feel about them. Of course the movie has to be "slow", as some angry reviewers said. It's an introspective. By the end, you might realize that everybody's lives are special in their own way. The point is: we are alive. We're STILL alive. So let us be satisfied about it, and live.
