St. Elmo's Fire Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1985

St. Elmo's Fire is a popular 80's drama starring the Brat Pack as seven young adults that just graduated from college and must now experience the difficult transition to full adulthood and independence. Along this perplexing journey to self-discovery they will battle personal demons, alcohol and drug abuse, unrequited love, shattered relationships and financial hardship.

Many would consider St. Elmo's Fire to be one of the decade's classic films, but is it deserving of such generous praise? Read on to find out…

It's probably a safe bet that almost everyone that grew up in the 1980's is familiar with Joel Shumacher's St. Elmo's Fire. Not only did the movie feature the Brat Pack, some of the 80's most popular young up-and-coming stars, it also featured an outstanding theme song (Man in Motion performed by John Parr) that became a smash radio hit. Unfortunately even those two strengths failed to save this vapid movie.

St. Elmo's Fire revolves around the lives of seven good friends that graduated from college and now struggle to adapt to the life of responsible adults. This is usually a fairly reliable base for which to make a solid drama, but somehow this movie manages to botch the formula by presenting unrealistically immature and unlikable characters that find themselves in such overly dramatic situations it would make a soap opera fan blush with embarrassment.

Kirby Keger (Emilio Estevez) is an aimless young man that becomes infatuated with an older woman, Dr. Dale Biberman (Andie MacDowell). Although she shrugs off his attempts at developing a relationship, he refuses to take no for an answer and begins stalking her through rain and snow, uses his bosses' house to throw a party in her honor (she doesn't attend), calls her home until his number is blocked, pursues her to a ski resort where she's spending romantic time with her significant other and more.

A real nutcase, right? You bet, but does she obtain a restraining order against him as a normal person would? Nope. She instead offers to take a picture with him and tells him, "I don't really know you that well, but you seem like a fine person." Huh? A lunatic stalker follows her around, calls relentlessly and shouts outside her apartment window and he seems like a fine person?

Next we have Alec Newbary (Judd Nelson), a long-time Democratic activist that that recently turned Republican to work for a senator. He's currently living with his girlfriend, Leslie Hunter (Ally Sheedy), and hounds her to marry him, but on the side he's constantly sleeping with other women. His own constant infidelity makes him want to marry her all the more since he has this absurd belief that if he marries her he will suddenly not want to cheat with others anymore.

Then there is Kevin Dolenz (Andrew McCarthy), a struggling writer for a local newspaper. He's a relatively quiet and peaceful fellow, but he hasn't had a relationship with a woman for years. Due to this his friends mistakenly think he is gay, and one goes so far as to try and set him up with a gay interior decorator. But he's not gay at all… he's actually infatuated with Leslie and does get the chance to sleep with her when she temporarily breaks up with Alec. Oh great… a love triangle!

Jules Jacoby (Demi Moore) is a drug-addicted flake that wouldn't know responsibility if it bit her on the behind. She spends her days sniffing up cocaine and sleeping with her boss, who she knows to be married. Soon she is fired from her job, but instead of cleaning up her act she pretends she still has a job and instead continues with her drug-filled shallow lifestyle. Eventually her car and furniture is repossessed. It's a shame the viewer can't draw any sympathy for this her though due to her absolute lack of any form of redeeming qualities.

Billy Hicks (Rob Lowe) is a drunk that cannot keep a job – the only passions in his life are his saxophone, women and liquor. There's just one problem… he's married and has a child! Well, he did anyways. The marriage is brought to an end when his wife observes Billy trying to put the moves on Jules right in the driveway of their house.

And finally we get to Wendy Beamish (Mare Winningham), the daughter of a rich privileged family. She's of course meant to be the "nice girl" in this film, so of course she's a virgin struggling against her father's desire to bring her into the family business. Instead she would rather live in a ratty apartment working for the Department of Human Services, handing out welfare checks to deadbeats that… surprise of all surprises… aren't interested in hearing her speak about obtaining jobs and just want their free money!

Okay, so maybe she wouldn't be so bad, except that this good girl is pining for Billy Hicks! And that right there is one example of why St. Elmo's Fire fails; it sets up scenarios that make absolutely no sense in the real world. In the real world the responsible and decent ones like Leslie and Wendy would want nothing to do with a druggie like Jules or a loser like Billy, yet here they just gloss over their completely contrasting lifestyles.

St. Elmo's Fire is almost pretentious in the manner in which it suggests the trials these seven face are similar to those most college graduates experience. In reality while there are some dregs in the world similar to Billy or Jules, there's no way seven friends would get involved with the constant infusion of over-the-top drama and love triangles that is seen in the movie… or remain friends if they did! This is soap opera quality stuff and nothing more.

So why do so many enjoy this film? The secret to this film's success is its charismatic young actors. Many of the actors in St. Elmo's Fire belonged to a popular group of up-and-comers dubbed the Brat Pack, responsible for multiple dramas and comedies dealing with teen angst. St. Elmo's Fire is the most serious film this group has done; it's just a shame the film didn't provide the material these actors needed.

If you are a fan of Brat Pack movies or would like to view a snapshot of 80's life (even if it is inaccurate), St. Elmo's Fire may earn a rental or spot in your DVD collection. Otherwise I'd give it a pass – there are plenty of other quality 80's dramas available.

Movie rating: 4 stars

If you enjoyed St. Elmo's Fire you may also find the following films to be of interest:

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