Brad’s Status (2017) Movie Review
According to its IMDb page, this movie is about a father who takes his son to tour colleges on the East Coast and catches up with old friends who make him feel inferior about his life choices. Starring Ben Stiller and Austin Abrams as father and son, this film is truly a breath of fresh air among the recent slapstick comedies providing cheap entertainment.
This movie is sweet as well as thought-provoking and not merely about a guy going through a mid-life crisis. The themes that this movie explores would definitely resonate with any adult who is trying to make it in the world today as well as those who have lived a full life.
The human mind is constantly engaged in activity, both conscious and unconscious, sometimes to the point that it creates internal conflicts within ourselves. This is what we watch throughout Brad’s journey; him thinking out loud on screen presented in a comical manner. They may seem absurd but if you think about it, we can all admit that often we play senseless and unrealistic scenarios in our heads.
We convince ourselves that the superficial things in life are not important and yet we’re impressed by them, even crave them. Brad is a man who has a stable life which could be seen as admirable by many, but upon comparing his lifestyle with those of his older friends, he feels a sense of inferiority and jealousy. He does not consider himself ‘successful’ in certain aspects. It was funny watching a guy that runs an NGO care so much about money. But there is reality in his thought process which has affected his internal conflicts. He knows that ultimately, money and luxury is what people consider real markers of success.
Brad relives his memories, thinking about the days when he had strong notions of idealism in the world. He didn’t want to make a lot of money but help the unfortunate. Through the years, he worked hard to build an organization which does that but it doesn’t prove to be successful. He watches his friends on social media leading luxurious lives while he feels like a failure in comparison. This movie beautifully touches upon concepts of competitiveness, jealousy, friendships, family and success. What I think it conveys is that negative emotions are just as important to build a person along with positive ones. The movie ends on an abrupt but considerably satisfying note where Brad is finally (maybe temporarily) in peace with himself.
The comedy isn’t laugh out loud but holds a much deeper meaning. I would definitely recommend this movie as it is unique and introduces notions that rarely appear in movies. Most importantly, the movie reinforces the idea that it is completely okay to not be okay with yourself for a while. It reminds us the significance of the real things worth living, amidst all the superficialities of modern life, and be grateful for everything.
Rating: 8/10
