Everyone’s Favorite BRATS

Here are my thoughts on the BRATS documentary that was released on Hulu. Be aware, there are spoiler alerts, but for those who’d be interested to hear, read on…

I really enjoyed stepping back in time with Andrew McCarthy’s new Hulu documentary, BRATS. It was a great nostalgic trip for those who loves 80s movies and 80s culture. It basically explores the ramifications of an article printed in 1985 by journalist, David Blum, in New York Magazine in which he coined the term “Brat Pack” when referring to the growing number of young actors in Hollywood that were taking over. What started out as a feature piece on Emilio Estevez, became a hit piece on the whole scene.

Apparently, these young actors took the criticism quite hard and scattered, as it shifted the narrative of their early careers and appeared to be undermine their talents. The journalist is pretty bold in stating that he played up his friendship with Emilio and that he was looking for an angle because he is a journalist, first and foremost. He is unapologetic, and who could blame him when the article is still causing a stir some 40 years later? This is a journalist’s dream!

When I first learned of this, I was pretty shocked by the reaction of the actors. This article and the moniker it inspired clearly put these guys on the map in a way that solidified the long-standing notoriety they received. I was surprised no one prepared them for this. Anyone who has ever experienced great success knows that it comes with both high praise and high criticism. The mere fact that they were under attack was a testament to their incredible popularity and influence. Those who were most closely related to the “Brat Pack” title were also the most beloved. For those who didn’t quite level up to being officially in the group (or as Lea Thompson called it, “Brat Pack adjacent”), it was simply because they weren’t looked upon as having nearly as much appeal. A young actor at that time could only wish to be associated with the name because that meant they were a part of the in-crowd!

But then there is the outside perspective. I never once saw the title as a negative. It seemed like a term of endearment for the types of movies that everyone loved and couldn’t get enough of — namely, teen movies with that John Hughes flair. As an 80s kid, I was utterly enamoured by them and looked up to those teens and early-20s actors as something to aspire to when I got to be their age. They made being a teen look magical. Even their peers wanted to emulate or identify with them in some way. Their peers in Hollywood wanted to be their friend. At no point did I ever find the term “Brat Pack” as a major negative or something to be ashamed of, it was just an easy way to describe the genre of film that was affecting youth culture at the time.

I guess for that reason, I find it terribly sad that it has dogged so many of the actors all these years. They walked away from great film scripts to avoid being associated with it, they gave up meaningful friendships with those who could relate to their experiences, and they let it feed on their insecurities and hold them back from enjoying their success. This pain is most obvious in Andrew McCarthy. He seems so wracked with pain over the ordeal and probably blames it for things that haven’t worked out in his life. Emilio Estevez seems quite jaded as well. But at least they are willing to talk about it. Perhaps it has affected Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald even more so, as neither of them agreed to be a part of the film at all. Which honestly makes no sense to me, because like it or not, this is your legacy and it’s not a bad one at that! Most people will never know this level of success or undying devotion from their fans, which only continues to grow as new generations discover these films.

So, let’s talk about that legacy for a moment. Of those who grew up in the 80s and 90s, who doesn’t have incredible fondness for John Hughes films? As was pointed out in the documentary, he went after the heart, which is what can be largely attributed to the longevity of his films. They are still an utter joy to watch and many have tried to emulate his style, both at the time and for decades to come. Which is another reason I am so surprised by the degree some of these “Brat Packers” have continued to hold a grudge. I mean, these films have inspired so many like it and continue to affect culture. Saved By the Bell, American Pie, Can’t Hardly Wait, Friends, How I Met Your Mother, Clueless, Mean Girls and the list goes on and on. None of these would exist without the popularity of those films. Being compared to an 80s teen movie only increases the appeal of a film, it doesn’t diminish it.

Well, even though many of the featured actors were deeply affected over the years, there are some who seemed to overcome it and move on in their careers or are just comfortable with themselves. Ally Sheedy is one who seemed to struggle at the time but has definitely made peace and even seems grateful for being a part of the movement. Rob Lowe appears to take life as it comes and is as chill as ever. Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr., Demi Moore, Sean Penn, John Cusack, and Nicholas Cage proved they would not be defined by their adolescence. But for goodness sake, can someone tell me where Anthony Michael Hall is in all of this?? Not only was he not interviewed for the documentary, but his name didn’t come up once. Was that by request? Perhaps it’s a sign that he suffered most of all. And yet we know, the love for the “Brat Pack” lives on!