Hulu’s documentary “Brats” is not a mere adulatory recap of the young stars of the '80s who had a significant bearing on pop culture, but rather an insightful examination of how reputation and nicknames can influence pop culture and the trajectory of acting careers.
"Brat Pack” was the term given to the elite group of popular young stars, and became a burden for the careers of the individuals identified as its members. Andrew McCarthy, one of the prominent members, reflects on his career and the impact of this label.
The documentary suggests that the creation of the Brat Pack was a result of a shift towards targeting a younger audience with younger actors like Tom Cruise in “Risky Business” and Kevin Bacon in “Footloose.” The core members of the Brat Pack first featured together in 1983’s “The Outsiders,” followed by other popular films like "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club."
In 1985, a journalist named David Blum coined the term “Brat Pack” while profiling Emilio Estevez for New York Magazine. The term had a lasting, and sometime negative, effect on the careers of the actors it encapsulated - some took years to overcome it, while others, arguably, never did.
"Brats" features conversations between McCarthy and ex-Brat Pack members including Estevez, Rob Lowe, Ally Sheedy, and Demi Moore. The documentary goes beyond mere reminiscence and features cultural commentary from Malcolm Gladwell and critic Kate Erbland. It explores the question of why we use labels in pop culture and the effects on artists when they are put in creative boxes.
The documentary offers a fresh perspective on the influential 'Brat Pack', revisiting the cultural shift to the narrative of young people they instigated and the ultimately derogatory label they were assigned. "Brats" represents a re-evaluation and reformulation of this enduring label.
