The Moment

Everything Spinal Tap II: The End Continues could/should have been, the Charli xcx mockumentary The Moment serves up witty barbs in generally accessible fashion while approaching music industry satirization from a decidedly different direction.

Viewers who aren't quite scholars on all things brat — this partially-informed reviewer included — will likely miss out on more than a few esoteric references to that 2024 megahit album and Charli in general. But the film’s skewering of celebrity, industry figures, and extravagant concerts hit plenty of evergreen Spinal Tap (1984) sweet spots and elicit a fair amount of quality chuckles.

Whether showing her clueless driver which Charli she is on his impromptu Google search or experiencing a decidedly non-relaxing vacation at an Ibiza resort, our extremely game star is a pleasure to follow and excels at delivering the film’s deadpan humor.

Even better, however, is the friction that arises with film director Johannes Godwin (Alexander Skarsgård, channeling his entitled Succession character), whose vision for and involvement with the brat concert film doesn't exactly align with the artist and her creative director Celeste (Hailey Gates, Marty Supreme), despite being pushed on them by seemingly everyone else in their circle.

These and other conflicts keep the film cooking, and while it’s difficult to buy The Moment as more than an elaborate scheme to sell more copies of brat, Charli and her collaborators — including veteran music video helmer Aidan Zamiri, making an impressive feature directorial debut — do a convincing job of making viewers think that the self-critiques and music industry lampooning are genuine. 

But true to its title, the results only yield temporary appeal, leaving Spinal Tap again without a true heir.

Grade: B-minus. Rated R. Now playing at Carolina Cinemark, the Fine Arts Theatre, and Regal Biltmore Grande.

(Photo: A24)