In a recent Q&A after a screening of The Moment, Charli XCX stated that one takeaway she wants people to get is “the creative process, and how you can really sometimes feel like you’re being like, pulled apart in and pulled between two sorts of inner demons within yourself.”

As you watch The Moment, you see that struggle in the version of Charli portrayed on screen. You see the artist being overwhelmed, trying to be herself, and wanting to please her label. The Moment gives the audience a fun look at Charli XCX’s life, but the mockumentary might not appeal to those who are not fans of the singer. 

At the beginning of the movie, a trigger warning about excessive flashing lights appears on screen. If you have light sensitivity issues, you should cover your eyes for the first few minutes of the movie. In those moments, we see Charli dancing on the floor with images flashing on screen from her concerts, news footage, and nights spent out partying. The scene ends with Charli in an airport lounge, waiting to board her flight. While sitting there, she is recording an advertisement and keeps making errors. 

Within the first few minutes of seeing her, the audience can see that Charli is exhausted. With “BRAT Summer” taking over the world, it feels like Charli has not had time to relax and is constantly on the go. Her label wants to keep the momentum going and is looking into how to continue milking the Brat phenomenon.

The Moment is a mockumentary that highlights the pressures and stress that are put on an artist to stay in the spotlight. While the mockumentary has a more serious tone than Spinal Tap, there are some humorous moments. Charli is not only trying to find time to relax, but is also preparing for a concert film. This is one of the plotpoints that brings a humorous tone to the film. The label wants to bring in the director, Johannes, played by Alexander SkarInsgård. Johannes is a bit eccentric and has ideas that clash with those of Charli’s Creative Director, Celeste, played by Hailey Gates. Celeste knows more about Carli’s vision than Johannes, and watching the two butt heads is pretty funny.

Where The Moment shines and makes Aidan Zamiri’s vision stand out are the hectic moments. In these moments, the audience is thrown into the thick of it and sees how mentally strong you have to be to live in this world. By having countless people talking to you at once, you have to be cognizant of what you are saying yes to and who you are talking to. With all of this madness going on, you can see how some celebrities falter and disappear from the limelight. The audience is privy to a moment of weakness, and Charli does something that has some major consequences later in the film.

Overall, what we learn from The Moment is that Charli XCX can hold her own as an actor. While this is an exaggerated version of her life, she has the charisma that fills the screen. If you are unfamiliar with her work and the road she had to get to where she is, this mockumentary might keep you interested in her. Fans of Charli XCX will enjoy this and hopefully get a somewhat understanding of her life.

Final Thoughts: The Moment is a surreal and intense look at the life of an artist. While it might not be for everyone, there are moments in here that are relatable. The pressure that an artist goes through to stay in the limelight is displayed on screen in its full, unedited self. Charli XCX does a great job of showing that not all that glitters is gold, and sometimes you have to take what is given to you to stay relevant.

Violence: There is no violence in the movie.

Kid Friendly: The Moment is rated R for drug use and language. There is a good amount of strobing effects in the movie, so keep that in mind if your kid has light sensitivity issues.

A rising pop star navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut.