St. Elmo’s Fire Is A Classic Eighties Movie About Friendship, Love, And Growing Up. Featuring The Brat Pack At Its Best, This 1985 Film Captures The Struggles Of A Generation Trying To Figure Out What Comes Next.
St. Elmo’s Fire Is A Classic Eighties Movie About Friendship, Love, And Growing Up. Featuring The Brat Pack At Its Best, This 1985 Film Captures The Struggles Of A Generation Trying To Figure Out What Comes Next.
Released in 1985, St. Elmo’s Fire is one of those movies that immediately brings you back to the eighties. Directed by Joel Schumacher, this coming of age film features an impressive young cast that became closely associated with the Brat Pack. While it is more of a comedy drama than an outright comedy, there are plenty of funny moments mixed in with the relationships, personal struggles, and growing pains.
The story follows a group of recent Georgetown University graduates who are trying to figure out their lives after college. They have spent years together, built friendships, and become accustomed to having each other around. Now they are entering the real world, where relationships become complicated, careers are uncertain, and being an adult turns out to be a lot harder than they expected.
At the center of the group is Kirby Keger, played by Emilio Estevez. Kirby is a waiter who has ambitions of becoming a lawyer, but he spends much of his time obsessing over Dale Biberman, played by Andie MacDowell. His romantic pursuit becomes one of the movie’s more entertaining storylines, especially as he struggles to understand the difference between infatuation and an actual relationship.
Rob Lowe plays Billy Hicks, a saxophone player who is still trying to hold on to his carefree college lifestyle. Billy is charming, irresponsible, and not particularly interested in settling down. His marriage is falling apart, and his inability to take responsibility for his actions creates plenty of problems for himself and the people around him. Lowe brings a lot of personality to the role.
Andrew McCarthy plays Kevin Dolenz, a writer who is struggling with his career and his feelings for Leslie Hunter, played by Ally Sheedy. Kevin has a difficult time expressing what he really wants, and his relationship with Leslie becomes increasingly complicated. McCarthy gives the character a quieter personality that contrasts nicely with some of the bigger personalities in the group.
Demi Moore plays Jules, one of the more troubled members of the friend group. She is working in banking and living a lifestyle that looks glamorous from the outside, but underneath it all she is dealing with financial problems and personal issues. Moore gives the character plenty of attitude while also showing the vulnerability behind her behavior.
Judd Nelson plays Alec Newbury, who is focused on his political career and his relationship with Leslie. Alec wants to be successful and respected, but he is not always honest about what he wants or what he is doing. Nelson brings the same intensity that made him memorable in The Breakfast Club, although this is a very different character.
Mare Winningham rounds out the main group as Wendy Beamish, a kindhearted young woman who works with children and comes from a wealthy family. Wendy is dealing with her own feelings and romantic frustrations, while trying to find her place among friends who often seem more concerned with their own problems. She provides some of the movie’s warmer moments.
One of the best things about St. Elmo’s Fire is the chemistry between the cast. These characters feel like people who have known each other for years, and their friendships are not always perfect. They argue, make mistakes, get jealous, and sometimes treat each other pretty badly. But underneath all of that, there is a genuine connection that keeps bringing them together.
Joel Schumacher does a good job directing the film and capturing the atmosphere of the era. The movie has that unmistakable eighties look, from the fashion and hairstyles to the music and nightlife. Schumacher would go on to direct several other notable films, including The Lost Boys, Flatliners, and Falling Down. His work here helped establish the visual style and mood that made St. Elmo’s Fire such a recognizable film.
The soundtrack is another major part of the movie’s appeal. The title song by John Parr became a huge hit and is still closely associated with the film. It is one of those songs that immediately brings back memories of the eighties, even for people who have not watched the movie in years. The music helps tie together the friendships, romance, and emotional ups and downs.
What makes the movie interesting is that it does not present adulthood as some wonderful destination where everything suddenly works out. These characters are educated, talented, and full of ambition, but they are still making plenty of mistakes. They have to deal with heartbreak, career disappointments, money problems, and the realization that life does not always follow the plans they made when they were younger.
I also enjoy the humor that comes from the personalities of the characters. Billy’s carefree attitude, Kirby’s romantic obsession, and the constant relationship drama provide some genuinely funny moments. It is not a traditional comedy, but it has enough lighthearted scenes to balance the more serious material. The film works best when it allows the cast to interact naturally rather than forcing dramatic moments.
Of course, the movie is very much a product of its time, and some of the characters’ behavior and relationship choices have not aged particularly well. But that is also part of what makes it interesting to revisit. It captures a specific moment in the eighties and a particular idea of what life after college was supposed to look like.
Overall, St. Elmo’s Fire is a good classic eighties film with a terrific cast and plenty of memorable moments. The Brat Pack performances, the soundtrack, the friendships, and the familiar struggles of trying to figure out adulthood make it worth revisiting. It may not be a straight comedy, but it has enough humor and personality to keep things entertaining. If you enjoy the movies of the eighties, this is definitely one that belongs in the regular rotation.