The Most Unassumingly Enlightening Scene From the 'Brats' Doc
How Demi Moore gracefully gave Andrew McCarthy his much sought-after “aha” moment.
Brats is not, in fact, a follow-up to Charli XCX’s bop-ridden, song of summer-producing album, Brat, but rather a new Hulu documentary from actor-turned-director Andrew McCarthy of St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Less Than Zero and Weekend at Bernie's fame. I wasn’t enthralled by the premise — centering on 1980s films starring the "Brat Pack" and their profound impact on the young stars' lives — but became instantly engrossed upon hearing McCarthy’s introspection on the 1985 New York Magazine article that branded them that name. The article described them as “a roving band of famous young stars on the prowl for parties, women and a good time.” This was, of course, mostly untrue.
“I’ve never talked to anyone about what that was like. It certainly was a defining thing in my life and I imagine it was in theirs as well,” McCarthy (who serves as the narrative focal point and centerpiece of the doc) says early on before laying out the documentary’s investigation.
“So I thought it might be interesting to try and contact everyone who was in the Brat Pack or might have been associated with the Brat Pack to see what their experience was at that time and what it’s come to mean all these years — decades — later.”
He’s quite successful, tracking down Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy and, most affectingly, Demi Moore. It’s in the latter interview that McCarthy is able to crack open a previously missing clue in his search.
As Alphaville’s “Forever Young” plays, McCarthy makes his way through the labyrinth of hallways at Moore’s home. And then she appears! “I’m playing with my hair. I don’t want my ears sticking out like an elf. Slippers good?” She appears as authentically casual and cool as you want to imagine her to be. But it’s what she says that really stays with you.