Andrew McCarthy’s documentary “Brats” on Hulu delves into the origins and implications of the term Brat Pack, which was used to describe a group of young actors in the 1980s. The term was coined in a 1985 New York Magazine article that featured Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Judd Nelson, and other actors from the movie “St. Elmo’s Fire.”
In the documentary, McCarthy explores the uncertainty surrounding who was actually considered part of the Brat Pack. Despite being a central figure in the group, Estevez himself was unable to definitively identify its members. He mentioned avoiding working with McCarthy to distance himself from the label.
Rob Lowe, another prominent member of the Brat Pack, initially disliked the term but has since come to appreciate the camaraderie it represented. Demi Moore, who starred in “St. Elmo’s Fire” alongside McCarthy and Estevez, also shared her thoughts on the Brat Pack phenomenon.
The documentary includes insights from actors like Jon Cryer, Molly Ringwald, and Lea Thompson, who discuss their connections to the Brat Pack. While some, like Cryer, deny being part of the group, others, like Thompson, consider themselves “Brat Pack-adjacent.”
Notably absent from the documentary are actors like Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and Sean Penn, who were also associated with the Brat Pack but chose not to participate in the project. Despite being featured in the original New York Magazine article, actors like Tom Cruise and Timothy Hutton are not typically regarded as core members of the Brat Pack.
McCarthy’s “Brats” offers a unique perspective on a defining era in Hollywood history and sheds light on the complexities of fame and friendship among young actors. The documentary provides an intimate look at the experiences of those involved in the Brat Pack phenomenon and invites viewers to reconsider their perceptions of this iconic group.