“It is the end of an era.”
Charli XCX is a bona fide force within the music world. Brats, her latest LP, was a global juggernaut, creating a whirlwind of pop-cultural success that spread like wildfire as she encapsulated a movement that, ironically, is hard to pinpoint. The Moment is her unapologetic swan song to the era. And while the famed singer never utters a note during the satirical concert film, it plays to her fanbase as she acknowledges the creative sacrifices that come with widespread success.
Set in early fall, 2024, The Moment opens after the Brats craze has fully taken hold. Hell-bent on crafting a tour that honors the album’s immense success, our protagonist, Charli XCX, playing a satirical version of herself, appears overwhelmed and exhausted by the entire experience. As she navigates the tedious details of every decision, her enormous successes screaming loudly around her, the exhaustion of her newfound fame plays heavily on her face.
A visionary show will surely provide a sense of creative freedom; a return to the brainwaves that got her here in the first place. But the studio executives are demanding a concert film. And they have a director in mind: Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård). And though Charlii has her top creative collaborator waiting at her rehearsal space, she’s about to learn the lack of control that comes with widespread fame.
Satirical from start to finish, Charli XCX, a self-proclaimed superfan of the late Rob Reiner’s This is Spinal Tap, never shies away from the blatant humor. And though the film hits the mark a majority of the time, when The Moment blunders, it does so with a majestic anchor tied to its waist.
As multiple cooks enter the proverbial kitchen, Charli, again satirizing herself, loses confidence and, as a result, her sense of identity, as the film introduces a more direct comedic element. A single social post gives her a break in Ibiza, where she seeks to rest, recover, and reclaim her creative integrity. But even in her physical absence, she finds herself drawn in by her team, all of whom try to drag her into their orbit. Overwhelmed and depleted, Charli caves, giving in to the powers that be and relinquishing control of her tour, her brand, and her vision.
It is here that the film falls off the rails. As the creative teams work hard to earn credit and control the narrative, the film loses sight of its end goal. The chaos, a fairly obvious play on the Brats Summer pandemonium, falls flat. And though Charles XCX fully commits to the role, the story struggles to find its path to a proper finale.
Credit Skarsgård for a superb supporting performance. Even Rosanne Arquette steals a pair of scenes as a record label exec who is determined to monetize the moment. But even they, amid the disarray and turmoil, are unable to fully right the ship during its pivotal third act. The film is too far gone by that point.
And as Charli XCX attempts to tighten it all together, straining to give the album, concert, and now film, a rightful end, you can’t help but ponder the possibilities. Granted, the rebellious singer was never going to play by the rules. That is why her fans love her. But The Moment, a daring exploration of the gimmicks of stardom, the obsession of fandom, and the exhaustion of fame, never stood a fair chance.
Brat Summer was a cultural phenomenon that transcended genre boundaries, expanding into fashion, lifestyle, and large-scale pop culture. The fact that it doesn’t fully encompass the film world is understandable. That would make too much sense. And though the film will likely appease Charlii XCX’s most faithful, it is doubtful to resonate far beyond her core base.
