Lamar Reviews - Brats (Airdate 7/19/2024)

I’m sure this Netflix documovie, by Andrew McCarthy, will have serious interest for a ton of people, and it will be considered a work of art, but for me not so much.

The “Brat Pack” name came from writer David Blum in a 1985 New York magazine article that was supposed to be about Emilio Estevez, but wound up focusing on a crew of actors in their 20’s at the time, most notably Robe Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Judd Nelson. Andrew McCarthy was barely mentioned in the piece. The article was published in 1985 right before the release of “St, Elmo’s Fire” and four months after “The Breakfast Club.” The article reads, This is the Hollywood Brat Pack, It is to the 1980’s what the Rat Pack was to the 1960’s-a roving band of famous young stars on the prowl for parties, women, and a good time. They make major movies with big directors and get fat contracts and limousines. They have top agents and protective P.R. people.

They have legions of fans who write them, buy them drinks, follow them home.

McCarthy sat out to visit all the actors of the Brat Pack to see if being a part of that ruined their lives as much as his. When McCarthy interviewed Emilio Estevez, they decided that the term Bratz made them seem like they were Lightweights, that would not be called up by Scorsese or Spielberg.

He interviewed Lowe, Estevez, Sheedy, Demi Moore and Jon Cryer, Nelson and Ringwald were no-shows.

It is 1 hour 32 minutes, no Rating, some language.

McCarthy finally meets up with Blum the reporter who by naming them the Brat Pack, caused unrepairable damage to their professional reputations. Blum’s job was being a writer. That is a hard business to succeed in, just like the movie business. As a writer you spend your life looking for the story, the headline, and the break that is going to make you famous in your industry. As he was writing the piece he noticed that all of these young actors had hit it big at the same time. They were living the life they dreamed of. In his mind he made the connection of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin and the Rat Pack. Brat rhymed with Rat, Bingo! 40 years later we are still talking about something he came up with. He did his job; does he not have the right to be successful just as much as Andrew McCarthy?

Andrew McCarthy seems whinny as he maintains that the term Brat Pack ruined his career and his life. Yet, he still manages to be worth $12 million. I’m not sure that showing Demi Moore $200 million, Rob Lowe $100 million, Jon Cryer $70 million, and Emilio’s paltry $18 million will get him much sympathy. He claims to have PTSD. I know there are many levels of PTSD, but I associate that term with Veterans, Rape Victims, and such. Having your career not reach the heights you wanted does not seem like a fair comparison.

My Score: 3 Buds