Review: St. Elmo's Fire (1985) Director: Joel Schumacher (15)
One of the quintessential Brat Pack films of the 80s, St. Elmo's Fire is still hugely enjoyable and unintentionally hilarious. Death by freezing with your windows open, anyone?
The movie follows a close-knit group of friends post-graduation, trying to find their place in the world. We have former frat sports boy Billy (Rob Lowe, NEVER looking better), bartender wannabe lawyer Kirby (Emilio Estevez), party girl Jules (Demi Moore), sulky writer Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), yuppie couple Alec (Judd Nelson) and Leslie (Ally Sheedy), and prim Wendy (Mare Winningham). The beauty of the Brat Pack is the way these guys get on, and it truly feels like a bunch of old friends working things out. Alec and Leslie are just as annoying as you remember, Kevin as adorable and we need more of Jules. Jules is fun!
Kirby's obsession with former student Dale (a perfect Andie MacDowell) is even weirder when revisiting the movie a few years on. He's a total stalker. You'd be had up for this creepy kind of shit now, yet Kirby is a lead character and you're supposed to be rooting for him. Strange, strange, strange, especially with the kiss at the ski lodge. Yuk.
It's Billy who really shines in the film - you can't help willing him to stop fucking up. It would be kind of cool to revisit the St. Elmo's Fire kids now and see them middle aged and with their own kids at college. Or maybe not. There's a wonderful sentimentality from watching the Brat Packers as they were. They're a comfort blanket, and this is a classic that keeps on giving.
And YES still to the theme song.
4/5 sax solos
One of the quintessential Brat Pack films of the 80s, St. Elmo's Fire is still hugely enjoyable and unintentionally hilarious. Death by freezing with your windows open, anyone?
The movie follows a close-knit group of friends post-graduation, trying to find their place in the world. We have former frat sports boy Billy (Rob Lowe, NEVER looking better), bartender wannabe lawyer Kirby (Emilio Estevez), party girl Jules (Demi Moore), sulky writer Kevin (Andrew McCarthy), yuppie couple Alec (Judd Nelson) and Leslie (Ally Sheedy), and prim Wendy (Mare Winningham). The beauty of the Brat Pack is the way these guys get on, and it truly feels like a bunch of old friends working things out. Alec and Leslie are just as annoying as you remember, Kevin as adorable and we need more of Jules. Jules is fun!
Kirby's obsession with former student Dale (a perfect Andie MacDowell) is even weirder when revisiting the movie a few years on. He's a total stalker. You'd be had up for this creepy kind of shit now, yet Kirby is a lead character and you're supposed to be rooting for him. Strange, strange, strange, especially with the kiss at the ski lodge. Yuk.
It's Billy who really shines in the film - you can't help willing him to stop fucking up. It would be kind of cool to revisit the St. Elmo's Fire kids now and see them middle aged and with their own kids at college. Or maybe not. There's a wonderful sentimentality from watching the Brat Packers as they were. They're a comfort blanket, and this is a classic that keeps on giving.
And YES still to the theme song.
4/5 sax solos
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