BRAT WHAPPING

What was it about this film that sent critics reaching for their cats o’ nine tails?

Surmised Rainer: “Most critics rhapsodize about the things they love. This was a case of them being equally passionate about the opposite.”

A Brat Pack backlash? “This movie is synonymous with the Brat Pack,” said Rainer, “which is synonymous with what’s cruddy about movies today. . . .

“It may be old-fashioned, but I always thought that stardom had to be earned. So why are we given movies like ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ and told we’re getting the cream of the youth crop? Are those young actors really the best ones we have--or are we witnessing huge ego wallow?”

Not everyone is knocking The Kids. KNBC’s David Sheehan looks at the Brat Pack as “a bright spot on the Hollywood horizon.” But he didn’t like this one: “Oh it was dreadful. But I can’t hold that against Nelson and Sheedy--who I think are both very talented. But I think they should stick to their natural course of evolution. So far they’ve done their best work in youth dramas. Here they fell victim to that Hollywood thing of packaging stars for the wrong material. It was a misuse and abuse of talent--an insult to them and their audiences.”

FO