dfloro Review of Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields

Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (2023)

Would've benefited from more info on her father

[8/10 · 12 April 2023]

Over approximately a three-year period, young Brooke Shields appeared (with her controlling mother's full permission and encouragement) in three movies that would both make her globally famous and in some quarters, disrespected and reviled. The titles of these movies are liable to provoke strong reactions from many people to this day, more than 40 years later: "Pretty Baby," "The Blue Lagoon" and "Endless Love." All films about the sexual awakening and/or exploitation of young people, and specifically the beautiful, pre-pubescent model/actress, Brooke Shields, who was 11-14 years old and a proud virgin IRL. If that weren't enough controversy and chaos for that juvenile a person to live through, then just wait and see what designer Calvin Klein had in store for her in unquestionably iconic and yet deeply disturbing mass-media advertisements. As Brooke and a close personal friend both say in the course of their in-depth interviews: it's a wonder she survived {any or all of} it. And as one might have feared back in the day (or even today, FTM), she reveals the details of a rape she survived by an entertainment industry figure (so many possible predators from whom to choose; my money is on Brett Ratner, who was making lightweight comedies in the years during and after she would've been graduating Princeton). Brooke would go on to be praised for her turn on Broadway in "Grease" and on the TV sitcom, "Suddenly Susan," in the titular role. It's lovely to see her at a family dinner with her (second) husband, Chris, and two daughters, discussing why "Pretty Baby" wouldn't get made today. All those actresses on "Euphoria," a daughter notes, are well over the age of consent, playing roles younger than they are. "Why couldn't they have done that with your movie(s), Mom?" Bam! Why indeed?!? I rate this 8/10, deducting a star since all of the parenting blame is heaped on Brooke's mom, Teri, and Teri's oft-mentioned alcoholism. Her dad was alive & sentient during those years!