There have been loads of music documentaries and biopics that present how the lifetime of a music star is usually a making an attempt one, with followers, file label executives, and hangers-on all wanting a chunk of a sure singer or band. Charli XCX is aware of the pressures in addition to anybody because of back-to-back hit albums, however as a substitute of addressing her life with a self-aggrandizing promo movie, she’s gone the surprising route with the mockumentary, The Second.
The singer performs a fictionalized model of herself who’s coming off of “Brat Summer season,” a cultural phenomenon that adopted the discharge of her 2024 album, Brat. Along with a deliberate tour, she and her staff are attempting to give you different methods to capitalize on the second, concepts that generally embrace her enter and generally don’t. The one which turns into the driving pressure of the story is a live performance movie that will probably be directed by the in-demand filmmaker Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård).
Despite the fact that Charli XCX had already deliberate out the visuals, props, and different parts of the tour with good good friend Celeste (Hailey Gates), Johannes slowly however absolutely pushes his concepts for use as a substitute. As that a part of her life begins to slide from her grasp, she begins to lose it usually, agreeing to endorse a Brat-themed bank card, taking an ill-advised spa journey to Ibiza, and extra.
Written and directed by Aidan Zamiri (who’s directed two Charli XCX music movies) and co-written by Bertie Brandes, the movie ought to on no account, form, or kind be interpreted as giving viewers an correct thought of who the singer actually is. Other than the presence of well-known actors like Skarsgård and Rosanna Arquette and comedic actors like Kate Berlant and Jamie Demetriou, every thing within the movie is heightened sufficiently to know it shouldn’t be taken significantly.
Nonetheless, it’s clear that followers of Charli XCX or those that participated in Brat Summer season will probably be extra invested within the movie than others. Understanding that Rachel Sennott’s cameo possible stems from their friendship following Charli XCX doing the rating for Sennott’s movie, Bottoms, or that she loved early fame from the inclusion of her track, “Increase Clap,” in “a film about two youngsters with most cancers,” as her character places it, provides some depth to the movie.
One of many funniest issues in regards to the movie is the dearth of a showcase of Charli XCX’s music. She doesn’t sing a single observe in your entire movie, and any songs of hers which can be heard are incidental to the story. There may be, nevertheless, a ton of oppressive flashing titles and frenetic imagery through the varied transitions within the movie. If you’re even barely affected by speedy lights and/or motion, it is likely to be greatest to keep away from the movie totally.
As George Clooney can attest from Jay Kelly, it’s harder to play a model of your self than you would possibly suppose, and Charli XCX deserves credit score for enjoying into rumors of her “bitchiness” on this movie. Upcoming roles in different movies will show whether or not she’s actually a great actress or not, however she has a presence that serves this film effectively. Skarsgård, who appears to be having a second of his personal in the actual world, is the clear winner for greatest supporting actor of the movie, scoring in nearly each scene he’s in.
The Second will not be as efficient a mockumentary as one thing like That is Spinal Faucet, but it surely nonetheless has sufficient memorable moments to make it value seeing for each followers and non-fans alike. If that’s not sufficient Charli XCX for you, she’s additionally created the soundtrack for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, which will probably be in theaters on February 13.
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The Second opens broad in theaters on February 6.
