A Few Thoughts on the Documentary, ‘Brats’

6/30/2024

Written by Juanita ‘Obi-Juan’ Bonner

Key Art for ‘Brats’ Courtesy of Hulu.

Ah, the 1980s. A time when a small group of young actors dubbed, ‘The Brat Pack’, entered the zeitgeist and somehow, for better or worse, became the face of the Hollywood teen movie explosion. We loved them! Wanted to hang with them! Wanted to be them! They were buds on and off the set. Or so we thought. It wasn’t until viewing the latest documentary Brats (Hulu; 2024), that I realized the perception of the Brat Pack was very different from what actually happened. Let’s discuss, shall we?

As a product of the 1980s, the era had a profound effect on my life. Everyone I knew embraced the decade in one form or another. Blasts of music, culture, style, and hair (LOL!!), were everywhere. Who among us didn’t have parachute pants? Multiple things stone washed. Bright colors. Michael Jackson attire. Or, thanks to Prince and Madonna, something with lace… lol. *ABSOLUTELY!!* To boot, an entire generation was molded and defined by MTV which debuted on August 1st, 1981 and changed music and TV forever. Plus, more than any other generation before, the 1980s were also defined by the rise of teen films that went out of their way to tell the story from a youth perspective. Suddenly, not only were music and videos speaking for us, but Hollywood as well. *IT WAS AWESOME!!*

To name a few. Films like Risky Business (Warner Bros.; 1983), Footloose (Paramount Pictures; 1984) and Heathers (New World Pictures; 1989) spoke to our darker, more rebellious sides. While Weird Science (Universal Pictures; 1985) and Back to the Future (Universal Pictures; 1985) gave us our very own sci-fi comedies. Even horror gave us such teen classics as A Nightmare on Elm Street (New Line Cinema; 1984) and The Lost Boys (Warner Bros.; 1987). Not to mention Sixteen Candles (Universal Pictures; 1984), Pretty in Pink (Paramount Pictures; 1986), and Say Anything… (20th Century Fox; 1989) brought all the romance. Finally, defining ensemble films such as The Outsiders (Warner Bros.; 1983), St. Elmo’s Fire (Columbia Pictures; 1985), and of course, the quintessential 80s teen flick, The Breakfast Club (Universal Pictures; 1985), spoke to our very souls and helped change how we see each other. As far as the Pack itself. Who’s in always depended on who you talked to. Even Andrew McCarthy, an OG member, who directs this wonderful documentary, notes that the group seems to be somewhat fluid. Though, the core in apathetical order consists of Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, McCarthy as noted, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy. Quite frankly, it’s hard to imagine my youth without these actors. *DAMN RIGHT* I was dying to see this documentary!!

Brats premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival before landing on Hulu. It follows McCarthy on a journey to meet up with some of his fellow actors, cultural critics and even the writer who spawned the phrase, ‘The Brat Pack.’ The film is enlightening and surprisingly intimate. McCarthy talks to the viewer as he travels from interview to interview. In between we see images and video clips that take us back to all the fame, attention and spotlights. Yet, as we smile down memory lane, a gloomier side is revealed. What it was truly like from the actors’ perspective to be labeled the Brat Pack. It was horrible!! *WOW!!* I had no idea the amount of negativity the term garnered for the up and coming bunch. To be at the top of your game then suddenly be dismissed and not taken seriously – in Hollywood that is – must’ve been terrifying. A bunch of 20-somethings on the rise became immature brats overnight. As a result, the majority of them had not spoken in 30+ years. I mean… I can’t be the only one that just assumed these actors remained friends. It was shocking to learn the opposite had occurred. I was just a kid at the time and I vaguely remember some of the stars lashing out against the phrase. It was heartbreaking to learn that out of fear for their own careers, as soon as the Pack was coined, they simultaneously were no more. *SIGH*

Dubbed ‘The Brat Pack’ by David Blum in an article for New York Magazine, the term quickly took off. While embraced by fans the world over, the documentary shows us that the brand didn’t sit well with its stars. Back in the day, I didn’t read this article. I mean… what poor kid in the 80’s bought, let alone read, a grown up thing like New York Magazine... LOL! There was no internet, hashtags, or Google searches. Cell phones were not a thing. In fact, the article has a section where Estevez searches for a phone to call a theatre. Yes… seriously! *LOL!* The term social media didn’t even really exist!! A simpler time as they say… LOL!! I read the article AFTER the documentary and I gotta say… I DIDN’T like it. Would I have liked it when it first came out? Well, it’s difficult to tell. I was young too. Though, hearing what the actors went through after Blum coined the phrase made me very sad. In a way that I had not intended. In short, it belittled them. It put them in a box, downplayed their actual talent, and made them out to be selfish, egotistical, immature… brats! As the documentary goes on to reveal. No one wanted this and the Pack scattered. It’s upsetting to know that a term I held so affectionately for all these years was actually detrimental to those carrying the mantle. Blum, without a second thought, labeled them and moved on. It was a job to him. Recognition for following the hottest stars of the day. In his defense, he was trying to be clever. Tying the name to the world famous Rat Pack. Personally, I believe it’s why the term was so beloved by fans. We saw it as a cool badge of honor for our generation. However, the whole article feels like Blum’s intent was to mock these young stars. In fact, since Blum was in his late 20’s, it actually feels a bit like jealousy. Or maybe I’m just being dramatic and over protective. Yeah… I’m sure that’s it! *EYEROLL*

Despite the fact that all of these actors were insanely talented people. *HECK YEAH!!* Blum inserted the idea that these young Hollywood kids were nothing but spoiled brats who paid no dues to get where they were like the generation before them. And he wasn’t subtle at all. In fact, Estevez notes that he felt betrayed by the article. Every card carrying member felt similar. Like the rug was pulled out from underneath them. The kicker all these years later? Blum is interviewed by McCarthy in Brats and states he has no regrets. It’s McCarthy that actually gives him a pass by accepting that he was just doing his job. Yet, only following the men of the Pack, Blum was critical of just about everything, particularly Judd Nelson! I found his article arrogant and to be honest, his in person interview was the same. Blum, capitalizing on the success of Brats (*OF COURSE!*), wrote a follow-up article for Vulture. Which, quite frankly, reads the same as the first. Conceited and indifferent. He was, after all, just trying to make a name for himself, right?? Yet, I wonder… if while making that name, he were outed TO THE WORLD, as a no talent hack riding the coat tails of all the famous writers before him, would he feel the same?? *DUH!!* He goes on to play up the vitriol he received from the Brat Pack post article as unnecessary. Interesting take for someone who nonchalantly criticized an entire group after following them for only a short time. No deep questions about them, their careers, who they are or want to become… nothing! Blum further criticizes the Brats documentary for not mentioning all the successes the Pack has had over the years. What he fails to realize is the impact was far deeper than career success. It CLEARLY caused doubt, fear, panic and anxiety that lasted decades. Sheesh!! It’s called empathy, bruh! Again, I’m sure I’m just being over protective… *RAISED EYEBROW*

Giving me all kinds of emotions, Brats is littered with nostalgia. Images, interview clips and more. And even with my frustration towards David Blum, I couldn’t help but be melted into a puddle by Andrew McCarthy’s humor, wit and overall explanation of coming to terms with being labeled a Brat. He explains that it took decades. That seeing the look on fans’ faces as they re-live their youth through him eventually softened his stance. He now accepts the Brat Pack as an affectionate term. An arc I didn’t see coming. A story I wasn’t expecting. And a love that will never die. It was wonderful to see some of these actors connect again. Even if three of my favorites – Molly, Anthony, and Judd – weren’t there. Brats is a pleasantly loving, albeit sad, film that wraps up with the lesson that growth, understanding, and acceptance comes with age. I cried, I laughed and most of all, I grew! In truth, we were all called brats once and we hated it too!! Imagine it defining your career right along with a generation. To be honest… I can’t!! You?? Until next time.

Watch ‘Brats’

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