Charli XCX's 'The Moment' Struggles with Defanged Satire in Brat Summer Reflection
In April 2025, pop sensation Charli XCX took to TikTok to muse on the enduring impact of her seminal album Brat, expressing a poignant ambivalence about letting go of a project that had become synonymous with her identity. "It's really hard to let go of Brat and let go of this thing that is so inherently me and become my entire life, you know?" she reflected, seemingly naked in bed, delving into the cultural ebbs and flows that define artistic lifespans. This frank admission underscored the album's role in catapulting Charli from pop's middle class to mainstream prominence, yet her curiosity about "the tension of staying too long" hinted at a deeper, perhaps trite, self-awareness that would later permeate her cinematic venture.
A Visually Hypnotic Yet Curiously Shallow Meta-Mockumentary
The Moment, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, is a 113-minute meta-mockumentary that attempts to dissect the Brat era with hyper-stylish visuals but ultimately feels uncharacteristically inert. Conceived by Charli and written by collaborators Aidan Zamiri and Bertie Brandes, the film assumes a high level of fan literacy, tying intricately to the real Brat social media timeline with freak fluency. However, this insider focus leaves little reward for those not deeply embedded in Charli's world, resulting in a narrative that circles her ambivalence over capturing the zeitgeist without moving beyond initial assessments.
Billed as a mockumentary, The Moment diverges from classics like Spın̈al Tap, leaning more towards the psychological horror of Black Swan. It portrays Charli playing a volatile, insecure version of herself, grappling with the pressures of preparing for the Brat tour. Her environment is populated by flat music-industry archetypes: demeaning promo tasks, feckless managers, and money-chasing label executives, all portrayed by actors such as Jamie Demetriou and Rosanna Arquette. The film's celebrity cameos, including Rachel Sennott and Kylie Jenner, add a mildly self-skewering touch but often feel indistinguishable from reality TV confessional.
Smart Concepts Undermined by Lack of Risk and Humour
Despite its noble intentions, The Moment suffers from a defanged satire that fails to bite. The film's warm, over-saturated palette and dynamic verite-style cinematography by Sean Price Williams effectively convey the jittery reality of high-wire fame, while AG Cook's pulsating score seamlessly integrates into the chaos. Yet, these technical strengths are overshadowed by a muddled thematic sprawl and a lack of comedic risk. Structurally funny moments, such as a self-aware joke about marketing a credit card to queer fans, fall flat compared to the genuine laughs elicited by Alexander Skarsgård's mere appearance in a beanie.
Charli's performance, often stuttering and flustered, comes off as mechanical against seasoned actors like Hailey Benton Gates, who plays her creative head Celeste. The film is strongest in quieter, vulnerable scenes—such as when Charli confronts ageing skin with a facialist or spins her artistic collapse as liberation in a voice note. These moments hint at profound questions about maintaining humanity amidst fame and the sacrifices of success, but The Moment seems content merely to ask them without delving into answers.
Conclusion: A Missed Opportunity for Deeper Critique
In summary, The Moment is a visually captivating but shallow exploration of the Brat summer phenomenon. It boasts smart concepts and talented contributors, yet its satire lacks the edge needed to rise above sharp-eyed construction. For fans and critics alike, the film serves as a reminder that capturing a cultural moment requires more than style—it demands depth, risk, and genuine humour. The Moment is set for release in cinemas on 30 January, following its screening at the Sundance Film Festival, but it may leave audiences yearning for the hedonistic fun of the original Brat era rather than its cinematic reflection.
