Review of Brad's Status (2017) by Alex H — 01 Aug 2018

Stiller is a polished exponent at delivering uncomfortable to watch performamces. Hete he plays an arsehole seeking affirmation tjrough a series of montages with an ensemble cast. As usual, he turns out a classic Stiller performance and some scenes you end up watching through your fingers.

Problem is it's nowhere as deep or as meaningful as it thinks it is. The script and plot are hackneyed and predictable. Of course he will find that redemption through his son's love. The only surprise is that he's still an arsehole at the end of it.

What a massive whiner. How much better it would have been if they had notched it all down several rungs. Stilled playing a guy who has a factory job while his erstwhile college buddies are maybe a middle manager, a nurse and a teacher.

Instead, we have a successful man pitched against ludicrously successful others making it impossible to engage in any real sense. No surprise to find out the alpha males all have dreadful flaws. Thank God then that you're Stiller with his loving son and plain wife.

After all, who needs a private plane when your kid can play the piano? At least he's not sick. Yes. It really is that cheesy. As I watched it I suspected the critics might like it more than the audience and so it appears.

It's that kind of film.