No, I’m not talking about Bratz, as in those ugly dolls.
Brats is the new documentary inspired, at least in part, by Andrew McCarthy’s autobiography, Brat.
The movie follows McCarthy as he comes to terms with the title the Brat Pack – a label placed upon him and an entire generation of late early 20 something actors of the early 1980s. 
McCarthy reaches out to several of his fellow “brat Packers“ many of whom he hasn’t seen or spoken to in over 30 years. Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, John Cryer, and about a dozen writers talk about their experiences as part of Hollywood’s Brat Pack and the impact it had upon an entire generation of young Americans.
As a documentary explains, the article began as a piece on Emilio Estevez, and turned into a much bigger feature, covering an entire generation of teen and early 20 something actors of the early 1980s. Just as some of the actors had varying degrees of success, some brat packers had their proverbial feathers ruffled by the term. Likewise, others took it in stride. For some, it brought their budding acting careers to a halt. Others were able to take it all in stride.
One of the problems with documentaries in general is that the subject matter tends to be laser focused. In the case of brats, the movie specifically zooms in on the “the brat pack“. And when that is all these actors are talking about, it almost comes across like they are beating a dead horse over the course of 90 minutes. For many people I’ve already talked to, this seems to be the one glaring issue with the film. 
But like any good documentarian, McCarthy starts on a quest to uncover one truth, and realizes that “The Brat Pack” takes many Americans back to a pivotal moment in their lives. It turns out the films of the bratpack play a greater part of American film history then MacCarthy initially realized.
Without really trying to, I think brats spoke a lot about the way that we, as humans, intend to suffer in silence. And no, I don’t think that being labeled as “the bratpack” is a form of suffering. My point is that the actors who seen the most triggered by that title are the ones who’s careers were the least successful. Rob Lowe and Demi Moore seem to have the best handle on things. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that they were the most successful actors out of the group. don’t get me wrong, all of the bratpack actors continued working and had decent careers beyond their 80s heyday. But from a commercial standpoint, Demi Moore ended up shining everyone. At one point in time, she was a highest paid actress in Hollywood. 
Myself, as a 50-year-old card-carrying member of generation X, I likewise have an immediate connection to these movies. They do remind me of my youth. I think more than anything, made me look back on that time, look at where we are today in 2024, and just realize how much the pop culture landscape has changed; that just names and faces, but also how our entertainment is even disseminated to us 
FINAL TAKE: if you were a member of that particular demographic born between 1965 and 1980, also known as generation X, I think this documentary is required viewing. Even for younger, or older fans of the films of that era, it’s a very interesting retrospective. Is very eye-opening as to how, these actors construed that infamous New York article, and how would affected their lives. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Brats is currently streaming in Hulu
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- Rob’s World Tour – international edition
- Compassion and youthfulness
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