Netfix doc: Brats - Save yourselves the time

[Ritterskoop]

Andrew McCarthy has come out with a documentary on the Brat Pack called "Brats," which has a few good moments, and the old clips are fun ... but I will suggest you save yourself and hour and a half of him basically going through therapy.

His premise is that being included in a group of young, popular actors in the 80s is that his career was harmed. He is a successful travel writer, but has apparently spent 35 years being unhappy that he was not a major film actor.

They do explain a good bit about the article and the writer who coined the phrase "Brat Pack," and what he intended by it, and that all the other entertainment outlets picked it up and used it.

Then he spends most of the film interviewing some of the members of the Pack. He also interviews several experts on pop culture, who mostly argue that the shift in Hollywood in that generation was unique to its moment (the industry figured out that marketing movies to 18-25-year olds was smart, and they hired a bunch of them to be in the movies).

It's really long and whiny on his part in places. I never thought he was the best of the Pack, so the whole thing was kind of tedious for me, with some exceptions coming up.

Movies that get the most attention: St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club

SPOILERISH AFTER THIS

By and large, the people who agree to speak to him think he's made a poor choice in allowing other people to shape how he sees himself.

My favorite parts:

Demi Moore, who has figured out some shit. She lets him know that a thing happens over here, and over THERE, we get to decide what it means. He decided this article meant way more than anyone else did, though clearly Emilio Estevez was not thrilled about it, and some others did not agree to be part of the doc.

Rob Lowe, who understands his good fortune to be gorgeous and to live in a place of privilege, but who chooses to celebrate all of the good that came from their work together.

Malcolm Gladwell, explain to him why the term Brat Pack caught on and why it was funny what it meant.

The ending is kind of funny.

[Beebs52]

I think we watched this. Agree with your assessment.

[silverscreenselect]

I'm glad I read your review. I saw the title and thought it was a documentary on sausage making.

I didn't want to see that one either.

[Super Creepy Rob Lowe]

I'm glad I read your review. I saw the title and thought it was a documentary on sausage making.

I didn't want to see that one either.

When my cable's out, I like watching people make sausages...

<raises binoculars>

[Ritterskoop]

Andrew McCarthy has come out with a documentary on the Brat Pack called "Brats," which has a few good moments, and the old clips are fun ... but I will suggest you save yourself an hour and a half of him basically going through therapy.

His premise is that being included in a group of young, popular actors in the 80s is that his career was harmed. He is a successful travel writer, but has apparently spent 35 years being unhappy that he was not a major film actor.

They do explain a good bit about the article and the writer who coined the phrase "Brat Pack," and what he intended by it, and that all the other entertainment outlets picked it up and used it.

Then he spends most of the film interviewing some of the members of the Pack. He also interviews several experts on pop culture, who mostly argue that the shift in Hollywood in that generation was unique to its moment (the industry figured out that marketing movies to 18-25-year olds was smart, and they hired a bunch of them to be in the movies).

It's really long and whiny on his part in places. I never thought he was the best of the Pack, so the whole thing was kind of tedious for me, with some exceptions coming up.

Movies that get the most attention: St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club

SPOILERISH AFTER THIS

By and large, the people who agree to speak to him think he's made a poor choice in allowing other people to shape how he sees himself.

My favorite parts:

Demi Moore, who has figured out some shit. She lets him know that a thing happens over here, and over THERE, we get to decide what it means. He decided this article meant way more than anyone else did, though clearly Emilio Estevez was not thrilled about it, and some others did not agree to be part of the doc.

Rob Lowe, who understands his good fortune to be gorgeous and to live in a place of privilege, but who chooses to celebrate all of the good that came from their work together.

Malcolm Gladwell explains to him why the term Brat Pack caught on and why it was funny what it meant.

The ending is kind of funny, but only if you slog through most of the movie.