Andrew McCarthy was not one of my favourite actors growing up. It’s not like I had anything against him, he just didn’t have an appeal like a Schwarzenegger or a De Niro had back then. Yet, I have watched the majority of movies that McCarthy has starred in, and better still, liked most of them.
But there is something about that era – the decadence and the debauchery of the 1980s – combined with the infamy associated with the ‘brat pack’ that lured me into reading this book. The era and the actors of those times don’t feel as decaffeinated as the Hollywood stars of the now.
The book overall is a solid read. McCarthy talks about his upbringing in Jersey, the two years spent at NYU, his somewhat twisted relationship with his father, the surprising non-relationship with his fellow brat packers, and his meteoric rise into movie stardom through his roles in iconic 80s movies such as Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire, Weekend at Bernie’s to name a few.
Some of his more interesting tales include partying with Liza Minnelli at Sammy Davis Jr’s mansion; living at Jacqueline Bisset’s bungalow; his adventures at the famous Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood; or snorting cocaine before a scene in Less Than Zero.
But the one theme that travels throughout is McCarthy’s problems with alcohol. He doesn’t bullshit about it. But it’s this honesty that makes him far more relatable and likeable. Pardon the pun, but it’s also ‘refreshing’ as much of the Hollywood PR machine of today avoids such conversation for fear of being cancelled.
