Pop Culture Happy Hour
Episode: Charli XCX, The Moment and What’s Making Us Happy
Date: February 6, 2026
Host: NPR
Panelists: Aisha Harris (Host), Stephen Thompson, Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, Tre’vell Anderson
Guest: Isabella Gomez Sarmiento (NPR Music Reporter), Tre’vell Anderson (Host of the Seated podcast)
Episode Overview
This episode dives into Charli XCX's new mockumentary film The Moment, exploring its satirical look at pop stardom, the pressures of mainstream success, and the meta-narrative it weaves about authenticity versus commodification. The panel dissects the movie’s style, what it says about Charli's persona and career trajectory, as well as how it stands out (or doesn’t) from recent pop star documentaries. Plus: the regular "What's Making Us Happy" segment delivers heartfelt recommendations for your upcoming week.
Key Discussion Points
1. Charli XCX, the Brat Era, and The Moment
- The premise: The movie is a faux-documentary that follows Charli XCX after the mainstream explosion of her album Brat (the so-called “Brat Summer” of 2024).
- Plot setup: Charli, under pressure to capitalize on her fame, agrees to record a concert film helmed by Alexander Skarsgård's Johannes—a director whose mainstream vision constantly clashes with Charli's party-girl, subversive aesthetic.
- Meta-comedy: The film toys with reality and fiction, making viewers question what's satire and what's authentic.
- Director: Feature debut for Aidan Zamiri, previously director of Charli’s music videos (“360,” “Guess”).
Stephen Thompson [03:39]:
"This is not [This Is Spinal Tap]. ... It’s not a mockumentary classic in that way. Oddly, what it is, is I think it’s more illuminating than a straightforward artist-produced kind of self-hagiography. ... Where you’re constantly questioning—this is fake, but is this real?"
2. Reactions from the Panel
Tre’vell Anderson – New to Charli XCX
- Tre’vell entered the film with little background on Charli, making their take a helpful counterpoint.
- Found the mockumentary approach "different," not particularly funny, and a bit too long, but came away saying, "That wasn’t bad."
- Enjoyed the exploration of tension between artistry and industry.
Tre’vell Anderson [02:34]:
"I don’t know the music. I know Brat Summer, and I know it was a thing, but ... I was along for the ride. ... It do go on just a little too long as a movie overall. But I left it being like, huh, that wasn’t bad."
Stephen Thompson – Experienced with Brat Lore
- Enjoyed the meta, self-aware satire, appreciated that the film isn't just propaganda.
- Noted how it feels "more real" than other pop star documentaries, citing Beyoncé and Taylor Swift "self-hagiographies" for contrast.
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento – Charli XCX Fan & Music Journalist
- Participated in "Brat Summer," attended Charli’s tours, but didn't love the movie.
- Felt the film struggled with pacing and didn’t fully land its deeper points about artistic integrity versus capitalism.
- Applauded the movie's relatability and willingness to poke fun at itself but thought some satire dragged or undermined itself.
Isabella [05:43]:
"It touched on really interesting concepts ... especially as it relates to ... true artistic vision and capitalism and label pressure. ... I'm not sure they really landed for me all the way. ... The mockumentary felt like it dragged a little bit."
Aisha Harris – Longtime Fan, Balanced Assessment
- Offers historical perspective, having followed Charli XCX since her club days.
- Highlighted Charli's complicated relationship with fame: wants it, but continually disowns previous work.
- Appreciates how the meta film addresses this contradiction.
Aisha [07:43]:
"She’s always been uncomfortable with the fame aspect ... she has aspirations of wanting to be famous, but you also get the sense that she’s constantly denouncing her previous albums after the publicity run is done ... the fact that Brat was an album where she couldn’t quite leave it behind ... I think works so well."
3. Notable Scenes and Moments
The Cameo
- There’s an extended cameo, left deliberately unspoiled, that the panel felt ran too long, illustrating the film's occasional lack of economy with time—a "first-time director" issue.
- Aisha [06:44]: "That scene felt like it went on for about three minutes too long. ... The economy of time is something that this movie doesn’t quite [master]."
The Ride-Share Scene
- Charli’s car-sharing scene with a driver who doesn't recognize her, then pulls up a Charlie Puth video instead, scored laughs.
- Stephen [12:30]: "Charlie Puth. Yeah, that was very funny."
- Isabella [12:34]: "Always the punchline, never the star—Charlie Puth."
Skarsgård as Johannes – The Satirical Villain
- Alexander Skarsgård is praised for embodying the "normie, hyper-capitalist, cringey guy" who serves as the personification of industry forces.
- His presence and the foil he plays to Charli and Celeste (Hayley Benton Gates) add both humor and tension.
Stephen [09:31]:
"He’s definitely the villain and he’s definitely a slimeball. But he’s not the only force ... She is also willingly entering into this [corporate] horror for a Brat credit card, which is, you know, definitely satirizing ... that corporate crossover."
Subverting Pop Doc Norms
- In contrast to the “autonomous genius” figures in Beyoncé or Taylor Swift docs, Charli’s character is shown as checked out, actively walking away from creative decision-making, lampooning the idea of pop stardom as solely the artist’s vision.
- Stephen [15:35]: "Charli XCX is largely checked out of the creative vision of this tour. She literally leaves ... just goes on vacation while a chunk of these creative conflicts are happening. ... a really kind of funny and self-aware approach ..."
4. Critiques & Constructive Observations
- Pacing Issues & Overexposure: Panelists agreed the film sometimes overstays scenes and suffers from uneven pacing; Isabella noted the irony in the film's critique of overexposure when Charli herself is everywhere in pop culture right now.
- Isabella [12:46]: "She's acting in all of these films right now ... it felt hard to wrestle with because it's like, we're actually not getting a break from her in any real way."
- Ambiguous Satire: Sometimes, the movie wavers between reality and satire, leaving the audience unsure—which is both intentional and potentially annoying.
- Isabella [13:12]: "Moments in this film where I had to remind myself that it was satire and not real. ... Maybe it's supposed to feel a little bit annoying that she's having such a hard time making these decisions."
- Creative Team Tension: The creative dynamic between Charli, the director (Johannes), and her creative lead/friend (Celeste) is layered, highlighting both industry mechanics and friendship complexities.
5. Memorable Quotes
- Stephen Thompson [03:39]: “What it is, is I think it’s more illuminating than a straightforward artist-produced kind of self-hagiography.”
- Aisha Harris [07:43]: "[Charli] is someone who really understands online language and uses that in her music in ways that I find fascinating."
- Tre’vell Anderson [10:30]: "Pop stars are human too, and I feel like that is kind of the thing that the film is trying to push and trying to showcase."
- Isabella Gomez Sarmiento [15:35]: "Oftentimes they're at odds with one another. And the last person anybody wants to hear from is the actual pop star."
- Stephen Thompson [15:54]: "Charli XCX is largely checked out of the creative vision of this tour."
6. Overall Verdict
- Mixed but intrigued: The panel found The Moment thought-provoking, sometimes clunky, satirical, and ultimately revealing—if not always incisively so.
- Distinctive approach: By refusing to play the expected narrative of pop star genius or victimhood, it sits uniquely among a recent trend of self-produced concert docs.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:19 – 01:45: Introduction to The Moment, main characters, mockumentary premise
- 02:22 – 03:15: Tre’vell’s first impressions (not a Charli XCX fan, fresh perspective)
- 03:34 – 04:54: Stephen’s take on satire and authenticity
- 05:32 – 06:33: Isabella’s critical perspective as a fan
- 07:43 – 09:01: Aisha on Charli’s relationship to fame and own history
- 12:01 – 12:37: Notable car scene—'Charlie Puth' joke
- 15:35 – 15:54: Commentary on Charli being “checked out”
- 16:09 – 18:07: Creative team tension; pop doc meta-commentary
What's Making Us Happy This Week (20:16 – 25:50)
Tre’vell:
- Moonshiners (HBO Max/Discovery) – Docuseries about Appalachian moonshine makers, offering both drama and slice-of-life entertainment.
Isabella:
- Heart the Lover by Lily King – A novel about a college-age love triangle that resonates with adult reflections; emotional, “a book that can get me to be that emotionally attached ... stayed up reading the end of it sobbing.”
Stephen:
- “Me at the Museum, You in the Winter Gardens” by Tiny Ruins – Dreamy, soothing New Zealand indie track discovered via a long-song-title social prompt.
- Quote: “This song is a mug of cocoa for your soul.” [24:12]
Aisha:
- Milisuthando – Documentary by Milisuthando Bongela now on Criterion Channel; a personal essay about post-apartheid South Africa and complicated cross-racial friendships. “It's unlike anything I've ever seen before, and I really hope people seek it out. ... Absolutely worth it.”
The Episode's Tone
Insightful and warm, with each panelist offering perspective filtered through their degree of Charli fandom. Skeptical but fair, they engage both the film’s charm and its frustrations—tracing broader questions about fame and authenticity in 2020s pop culture. The energy is conversational, approachable, and peppered with humor and personal anecdotes.
For Listeners New to the Episode
This discussion will fill you in on The Moment's irreverent approach to the pop documentary genre, Charli XCX’s wrestling with her public persona, and why this movie might frustrate or fascinate you—depending on your fandom, or your patience for cheeky meta-satire. The "What's Making Us Happy" segment rounds out the show with book, music, documentary, and reality TV recommendations to brighten your week.