'The Moment' Review: Charli XCX Stars in This Entertaining Mockumentary Satire
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Jack Ransom - February 24, 2026
The Moment is a mockumentary satire that follows a rising pop star (Charli XCX), as she navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut.
I missed out on the Brat Summer phenomenon when it was at its fever pitch, but that instantly iconic and recognisable slime, electric green cover certainly appeared on my social media feed a lot throughout 2024 & 2025. I really only started listening to Charli XCX last year, and since then she has started appearing prevalently within filmic circles; creating the soundtrack for “Wuthering Heights”, appearing in the Criterion Closet, being cast in Takashi Miike’s next project and starring in the two other films set to be released this year.
There’s no denying that this film could be called This Is Spinal Brat (I’m copyrighting that if the joke hasn’t already been made), as it’s clear Charli and co. are big fans of the late great Rob Reiner’s cult favourite rockumentary: the deadpan, sarcasm laced subtle humour, the hassle and exhaustion of having an entourage of people following you around everywhere and of course: big, ridiculous stage props. Whilst that film stuck consistently to the silliness, The Moment switches gears in the third act to heightened psychological drama levels and even civil unrest after a brand deal bratastrophe.
It does feel a tad stretched at 103 minutes and I found it took a little while to find its footing, though the jarring, jumping structuring does certainly replicate the hectic lifestyle of the rich and famous. It’s at its best firstly when delivering the deadpan, sarcasm laced British humour goods (Charli’s Amsterdam conversation with the driver) and when the unpredictable, overbearing and cringe-inducing Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård) enters the picture with his attempts to tone down Charli’s image. Lastly, and I won’t spoil it, the ending gag had me cracking up.
Stylistically this is a whirlwind of different choices crashing together. Opening with seizure inducing, pulsing, intense lighting as bold giant title sequences hit. It perfectly encapsulates the rave and riotous vibes of the music. The blend of handheld/documentary style filming, alongside cinematic shots, news reports and phone cameras to name but a few, keeps the film visually arresting and puts you in the feet of one of the many Charli team members and as a fly-on-the-wall.
Charli XCX is clearly relishing playing this spikier, heightened version of herself. Though there is surely undeniable streaks of truth in her exhaustion of the Brat era that blew up and the constant hounding of all those around her. She has the comedic chops as well as nailing the moments of frustration and sadness. Alexander Skarsgård’s pompous, off-kilter and cold pretentious director is a riot. His attempts to subdue the Brat personality and hype up the cheesier pop concert elements are some of the funniest beats and Jamie Demetriou, Haley Gates and Rosanna Arquette are fun in their support roles.
The Moment will no doubt land more with fans of the Brat era, but for casual viewers this is still a solidly entertaining, at times bitingly funny, chaotic and unpredictable romp that does feel a little overstretched and takes a bit of time to find its groove.
'The Moment' is out now in cinemas.
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