The documentary Bratsstarted streaming last week on Hulu, and thus names associated with the “The Brat Pack” term, like Andrew McCarthy (who made the movie), Rob Lowe, and Molly Ringwald are in the news.
Here’s the thing, though: Ringwald, who starred in Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and The Breakfast Club, (but doesn’t appear in the documentary), is not even mentioned in the 1985 article from which the “Brat Pack” label originated. (In fact, it mentions none of the female characters one might associate with the term, including three who are included in the doc: Lea Thompson, Ally Sheedy, and Demi Moore.) And so:
Watching the doc, and then getting curious enough to go search out the original article and read it, now having me obsessing (in a fun way) about the point the article’s author had (I think) been trying to make— but how the term Brat Pack ended up taking on another meaning, or at least another kind of “life,” altogether. Do you think Tom Cruise is in the Brat Pack? (I most definitely didn’t before this film. But he tops the list of the Brat Packers in the original article.) One of my favorite moments in the film was the quick chat with Lea Thompson, who described herself as “Brat Pack adjacent.”
Personally, I think of the Brat Pack as, basically, the cast of The Breakfast Club. But that might simply be because I was pretty young when those movies came out, I wasn’t allowed to watch them until I got much older, and so there are a whole bunch I still haven’t even seen. I think I might’ve first heard the name Rob Lowe in a news story about a “sex tape,” before I even knew what sex was.
But what about other John Hughes (and other directors’) films of the same era? Why isn’t Matthew Broderick considered to be a Brat Packer? (Or, heck, the dude who played Cameron?) Are the Cusacks (John and Joan) in the Brat Pack?
John Cryer IS in the doc, but Anthony Michael Hall is not, (and did not even appear to be on the list of people McCarthy called). What the what?
Mare Winningham is a name I’ve never once associated with the group, but, I learned (or was reminded) from the movie, she’s in St. Elmo’s Fire.
Did you watch Brats, or do you plan to?
Did you enjoy seeing these familiar faces and listening to them assess their self-impressions and their careers?
Or did you think Andrew McCarthy is navel gazing and needs to get a life?
And perhaps most importantly: can you you think of any reason why, for the interview McCarthy most likely knew was going to be the most awkward or tense, he staged the subject (Emilio Estevez) across from him, standing up for the entirety, across a kitchen counter? I’m still scratching my head over that one.
Let me hear from you, (even if you haven’t seen the film).
-Alison
P.S. The title of this feature (The 1977), a play on the name of the rock band The 1975, invites those who were born in or around that year (my year) to indulge with me in my obsession with all things Gen X, and/but I most definitely welcome participants from every generation.
P.P.S. Here’s a post from earlier this year about the late-in-life reemergence of Molly & Demi.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Joan! I agree with so much of this and I do definitely think the young and relatively unformed part played a large part. And related to that, just the sort of fickle grouping and typcasting we do in all forms of entertainment/art!
I had Brats marked on my calendar and watched it first thing that morning!
McCarthy and Estevez standing was quite off putting. Everyone else was interviewed sitting.
I wouldn’t consider Tom Cruise Brat Pack either. I’m curious to find a definitive list of actors/films or if one exists. These films were all of my time, solidly, so I watched and loved them all when they came out. I never would have guessed that these actors took the term in a negative way - they were this group of young actors that so many of my age group looked up to and wanted to be (or be friends with). I’m going to have to go read the original article now! I’ve been meaning to ever since I watched the documentary. I am planning on writing about it as well! Right at the end I was remembering that someone had written a book about it - and yep, it was at the end that the documentary was “based on a book” by McCarthy. Maybe his book didn’t do as well as he imagined it would…the documentary is likely based on the same idea as his book.
It was very interesting to see all the different perspectives. Especially the inside perspective vs the outside.
It was disappointing not to hear from Molly Ringwald or Judd Nelson - and yes, no mention of Anthony Michael Hall!! He was in so many of the Brat Pack films.
I had it marked on mine, too, and was (almost) annoyed when a friend came to town unexpectedly that night! ;). LOVE me some Brat Pack/ anything John Hughes related so I was NOT going to miss this. So, I got to see it Friday night. So, now:
1) I'd love to know your top 3 faves since you've seen the slew! (movies, or actors!)
2) Let me know if/when you post about it!
3) I agree (and have seen so many comments on s.m.) about people of these actors' generation saying "we looked up and wanted to be them." Which makes the movie's tagline so perfect and clever: "Everyone wanted to be in the Brat Pack. Except them." And also makes it kinda tragic that it really bothered them! (Or bothered some of them. And possibly did have a limiting impact on their careers.)
Glad knowing you enjoyed the inside vs. outside perspective as well (and that you agree that the stand-up in the kitchen was weird!)
The reason for the offense McCarthy took to the term is much clearer now since reading that original article. You'll see that in addition to just doing a fun (and admittedly clever) pun on the name, from the Rat Pack, the reporter really was trying to make a point about more-or-less "bratty"/ spoiled behavior (and he seemed to take issue that, as youngster, they had not really earned acting "cred.") It made me think of how in the last year or so, there were some articles in the news about "nepo babies." Like, kids getting into Hollywood who happen to have, say, a marked advantage because of their famous parents. Could that label be equally damaging to some of those kids who are serious about their craft and quite talented? (And yet, is there also a fair point to be made in the fact that their parents can help them get on the Hollywood path?)
I think the term Brat Pack just started to mean *any* young and upcoming star during that era, and the documentary helped me see that there was a HUGE influx of scripts/movies being made starring young people. But unfortunately for those mentioned in the 1985 article, the "brat" term was more specifically about their behavior. And also just because Hollywood is fickle, they did unfairly get lumped together and therefor typecast.
Such a long comment, phew! But thanks for being up for a Gen X related chat with me!! :)
I love your long response! I had typed in an equally long response and hit a wrong button and lost it 😂 I so hate when that happens!!
Anyway, my top 3 films would be The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. Top 3 actors: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Judd Nelson. I really only marginally saw McCarthy as a Brat Pack member lol
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Joan! I agree with so much of this and I do definitely think the young and relatively unformed part played a large part. And related to that, just the sort of fickle grouping and typcasting we do in all forms of entertainment/art!
I had Brats marked on my calendar and watched it first thing that morning!
McCarthy and Estevez standing was quite off putting. Everyone else was interviewed sitting.
I wouldn’t consider Tom Cruise Brat Pack either. I’m curious to find a definitive list of actors/films or if one exists. These films were all of my time, solidly, so I watched and loved them all when they came out. I never would have guessed that these actors took the term in a negative way - they were this group of young actors that so many of my age group looked up to and wanted to be (or be friends with). I’m going to have to go read the original article now! I’ve been meaning to ever since I watched the documentary. I am planning on writing about it as well! Right at the end I was remembering that someone had written a book about it - and yep, it was at the end that the documentary was “based on a book” by McCarthy. Maybe his book didn’t do as well as he imagined it would…the documentary is likely based on the same idea as his book.
It was very interesting to see all the different perspectives. Especially the inside perspective vs the outside.
It was disappointing not to hear from Molly Ringwald or Judd Nelson - and yes, no mention of Anthony Michael Hall!! He was in so many of the Brat Pack films.
I had it marked on mine, too, and was (almost) annoyed when a friend came to town unexpectedly that night! ;). LOVE me some Brat Pack/ anything John Hughes related so I was NOT going to miss this. So, I got to see it Friday night. So, now:
1) I'd love to know your top 3 faves since you've seen the slew! (movies, or actors!)
2) Let me know if/when you post about it!
3) I agree (and have seen so many comments on s.m.) about people of these actors' generation saying "we looked up and wanted to be them." Which makes the movie's tagline so perfect and clever: "Everyone wanted to be in the Brat Pack. Except them." And also makes it kinda tragic that it really bothered them! (Or bothered some of them. And possibly did have a limiting impact on their careers.)
Glad knowing you enjoyed the inside vs. outside perspective as well (and that you agree that the stand-up in the kitchen was weird!)
The reason for the offense McCarthy took to the term is much clearer now since reading that original article. You'll see that in addition to just doing a fun (and admittedly clever) pun on the name, from the Rat Pack, the reporter really was trying to make a point about more-or-less "bratty"/ spoiled behavior (and he seemed to take issue that, as youngster, they had not really earned acting "cred.") It made me think of how in the last year or so, there were some articles in the news about "nepo babies." Like, kids getting into Hollywood who happen to have, say, a marked advantage because of their famous parents. Could that label be equally damaging to some of those kids who are serious about their craft and quite talented? (And yet, is there also a fair point to be made in the fact that their parents can help them get on the Hollywood path?)
I think the term Brat Pack just started to mean *any* young and upcoming star during that era, and the documentary helped me see that there was a HUGE influx of scripts/movies being made starring young people. But unfortunately for those mentioned in the 1985 article, the "brat" term was more specifically about their behavior. And also just because Hollywood is fickle, they did unfairly get lumped together and therefor typecast.
Such a long comment, phew! But thanks for being up for a Gen X related chat with me!! :)
I love your long response! I had typed in an equally long response and hit a wrong button and lost it 😂 I so hate when that happens!!
Anyway, my top 3 films would be The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. Top 3 actors: Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and Judd Nelson. I really only marginally saw McCarthy as a Brat Pack member lol
Gaaah I hate when that happens!!!
I loved Judd’s “appearance” at the very last second!