"Brad's Status" begins like a coming-of-age film about a young man interviewing colleges as he embarks upon adulthood. But the coming-of-age experience is more applicable to the boy's father, who is experiencing a peculiar mid-life crisis about "status."

In the bonus track of the DVD of "Brad's Status," the writer-director described the film as a personal drama about "status anxiety." Brad is overly concerned with competition and what others think about him. In a scene where he reunites with an old college chum, the friend never even recalled their relationship as competitive.

For poor Brad, the glass always seems half empty. One of his realizations in the film is that "sometimes in life, you can lose the plot." Indeed, Brad has lost his narrative, and it takes his perceptive son get him back on track.

The film stretched credibility by making Brad's son far too wise beyond his years. The same was true of a young musician friend of the son, who takes the father to school with life lessons, telling him simply, "Trust me; you have enough."

It may be difficult for most of us struggling to earn a living to relate to Brad's status anxiety. But despite its shortcomings, the film has some thoughtful dialogue, and Ben Stiller is excellent in the role of Brad. There are many heartfelt moments where the poor schlub begins to realize how full and complete his life really is.

The interesting thing about Brad's Status is that its creators managed to put in Eugene O'Neill like introspection into a simple act of a father and son trip to look at Ivy League colleges. So if young Austin Abrams doesn't get into Harvard, well maybe he goes to USC? Such problems.

In the game of life Ben Stiller in the title role didn't come out a winner as did many of his classmates. He's somewhere in the middle of the pack and he starts thinking these 'where did I go wrong'' thoughts throughout the entire film.

Most of the 'action' takes place in Stiller's own head and that's a problem, it really doesn't translate well to screen. Best in this film are the scenes with Stiller and Abrams. They really reach great heights in the acting department showing the relationship between the two.

Not a film for everyone.

Brad Sloan (Ben Stiller) feels like a failure. His only employee quits his sad non-profit. His college friends are all rich and successful. Nick Pascale (Mike White) is a Hollywood producer. Craig Fisher (Michael Sheen) is a political media star. Billy Wearslter (Jemaine Clement) is a retired tech entrepreneur. Jason Hatfield (Luke Wilson) runs a big hedge-fund. His wife Melanie (Jenna Fischer) is frustrated with his new found money concerns. He and his son Troy head off to the east coast to tour college campuses.

The premise has great potential. Stiller as a jaded disillusioned do gooder is an useful darker character. As first, I thought I couldn't get into the movie because of a lack of comedy or a dislike of the son. It's really Brad's inner monologue that is more annoying. Ananya puts it best calling them first world problems. In fact, his conversation with her could have been great writing but it gets condensed into yet another inner monologue. It may be the point but it's frustratingly annoying. Then there is the dinner with Craig. I can't abide by Brad's reaction. The man holds his son's future in his hands and he needs to take it no matter what. It would be more dramatically satisfying for him to take the hits. Like his inner monologue, Brad is his own biggest problem. This is a good movie but it's hard to like this whiny character. It would help immensely without his whiny monologue.